August, 2021 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Letruska Holds Off All Challengers To Win Personal Ensign

Already at the top of the older filly and mare division, already a multiple Grade 1 winner, Letruska demonstrated her dominance over all challengers again today. In the Grade 1 Personal Ensign, she fought off Swiss Skydiver early and then a surging trio of fillies and mares late to earn her third Breeders' Cup Win and You're In victory in 2021.

Breaking from post four, Jose Ortiz hustled Swiss Skydiver to the lead, but Irad Ortiz, Jr. on Letruska took over on the first turn, darting out to the lead with the 2020 Preakness Stakes winner in second. On the backstretch, Letruska was in front by two, with Miss Marissa, Swiss Skydiver, and Harvey's Lil Goil behind her. Through early fractions of :23.01 for the quarter-mile and :46.74 for the half, Letruska had no trouble maintaining her lead through challenges from Harvey's Little Goil on her outside on the far turn, Swiss Skydiver still in position on the rail to challenge again in the stretch. Once again, Letruska was not going to give up the lead.

Into the stretch, Letruska showed no signs of slowing down, with Swiss Skydiver falling back and Bonny South, Royal Flag, and Dunbar Road surging down the stretch. They could not catch her, with Letruska outlasting the closers to win by a half-length. The final time for the 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign was 1:49.15.

Letruska paid $3.50, $3.10, and $2.60. Bonny South paid $10.60 and $5.30. Royal Flag paid $4.10.

Winners of Breeders' Cup Win and You're In events received a fees-paid, guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the corresponding Breeders' Cup race at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., on Nov. 6. The G1 Personal Ensign is a Win and You're In race for the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

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Letruska Hangs On in Personal Ensign

Letruska (Super Saver) continued her domination of the distaff division with determined triumph in Saratoga's GI Personal Ensign S. Saturday, a “Win and You're in” for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Del Mar in November. Favored at 3-5 to score her fourth straight win, the bay rushed up challenge champion Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who broke like a shot and was hustled away from the stalls by her pilot Jose Ortiz. His elder brother Irad Ortiz charged past the chalk exiting the first turn and Swiss Skydiver settled back in third as GII Delaware H. victress Miss Marissa (He's Had Enough) moved up to press Letruska through a :23.01 opening quarter and :46.74 half-mile. Miss Marissa called it quits at that point and Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah), a Grade I winner on turf, charged up to pressure the pacesetter through three-quarters in 1:10.76.

Turning for home in front, Letruska was immediately confronted by Swiss Skydiver to her inside as Harvey's Lil Goil threw in the towel on the outside and MGSW Bonny South (Munnings) ranged up to take her place. Swiss Skydiver grew leg weary at the sixteenth-pole, but Bonny South continued to box on with GIII Shuvee H. winner Royal Flag (Candy Ride {Arg}) glued to her outside and Dunbar Road (Quality Road) rallying strongly out in the four path. Letruska kept on finding in deep stretch, digging deep to out-foot her foes for an half-length success. Bonny South held second by a head over Royal Flag and it was just another head back to Dunbar Road in fourth.

“I had concerns when they were running at her because these are very good horses and they are in good form,” said winning trainer Fausto Gutierrez, who indicated Letruska would have her final Breeders' Cup prep in Keeneland's GI Juddmonte Spinster S. “I'm very pleased with the way she ran. Every place that she's run, with all the horses she's run against. She's fast, she fights and she's a real racehorse. She has ability, but more she has a big heart. This a special horse.”

Irad Ortiz echoed Gutierrez's sentiments, saying, “She's a special horse. I am very excited and happy for the trainer, Fausto Gutierrez. He's done such a great job with her. She's doing great. She does all the hard work, I just pilot her. She's easy to ride.”

Winner of the Shuvee at this venue last year, Letruska kicked off 2021 with a decisive score in the GIII Houston Ladies Classic S. Jan. 31 and came up a head short of last term's GI Kentucky Oaks heroine Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in Oaklawn's GII Azeri S. Mar. 13. Letruska stamped herself as the one to watch this season when besting champions Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and Swiss Skydiver with a narrow win in the GI Apple Blossom H. in Hot Springs Apr. 17. Defeating Bonny South by 2 3/4 lengths in Belmont's GI Ogden Phipps S. June 5, the bay romped in Churchill's GII Fleur de Lis H. last out June 26.

Pedigree Notes:

Letruska is one of six Grade I winners for the expatriated Super Saver and one of 14 graded scorers for that GI Kentucky Derby winner. The winner's dam Magic Appeal (Successful Appeal), who finished third in this venue's GII Adirondack S., is also the dam of MSW & GISP Trigger Warning (Candy Ride {Arg}) and SP American Doll (Tiznow). The full-sister to J P's Gusto is also responsible for the unraced juvenile colt Ocotzingo (Hard Spun), a yearling colt by the late champion Arrogate and a 2021 filly by the late Malibu Moon. Magic Appeak was bred back to Curlin. Letruska hails from the family of American champion Proud Spell (Proud Citizen) and Canadian champion Miss Mischief (Into Mischief).

Saturday, Saratoga
PERSONAL ENSIGN S. PRESENTED BY LIA INFINITI-GI, $600,000, Saratoga, 8-28, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:49.15, ft.
1–LETRUSKA, 124, m, 5, by Super Saver
1st Dam: Magic Appeal (GSP), by Successful Appeal
2nd Dam: Call Her Magic, by Caller I. D.
3rd Dam: Malibu Magic, by Encino
O/B-St George Stable LLC (KY); T-Fausto Gutierrez; J-Irad Ortiz Jr. $320,000. Lifetime Record: 21-16-1-1, $1,936,459. *1/2 to Trigger Warning (Candy Ride {Arg}), MSW & GISP, $555,378. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Bonny South, 120, f, 4, by Munnings
1st Dam: Touch the Star, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Willstar, by Nureyev
3rd Dam: Nijinsky Star, by Nijinsky II
O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms Inc (KY); T-Brad H Cox. $112,000.
3–Royal Flag, 120, m, 5, by Candy Ride (Arg)
1st Dam: Sea Gull, by Mineshaft
2nd Dam: Exclusive Bird, by Storm Bird
3rd Dam: Exclusive Moment, by Exclusive Native
O/B-W S Farish (KY); T-Chad C Brown. $60,000.
Margins: HF, HD, HD. Odds: 0.75, 23.40, 9.80.
Also Ran: Dunbar Road, Swiss Skydiver, As Time Goes By, Harvey's Lil Goil, Miss Marissa, Graceful Princess.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Jackie’s Warrior Gets Better Of Life Is Good In H. Allen Jerkens Memorial

Jackie's Warrior followed his 7 1/4-length victory in the Grade 2 Amsterdam with a gritty performance in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkins Memorial at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The son of Maclean's Music showed his versatility after running second throughout much of the seven furlongs, taking the lead in the stretch, and holding off a resurgent Life Is Good to win the G1 stakes for 3-year-olds.

Breaking from post two, Jackie's Warrior got out of the gate fast, but Mike Smith and Life Is Good were fastest, taking the lead in the first quarter-mile, with Judge N Jury in third. Around the far turn, Life Is Good had as much as a 2 1/2-length lead on Jackie's Warrior, who kept the leader in his sights as they entered the stretch. Once in the straight, Jackie's Warrior, running toward Life Is Good's inside, took over the lead, but Smith and the son of Into Mischief fought back, closing the gap between the two in the last sixteenth. The two dueled through the race's final yards, with Jackie's Warrior getting a neck in front at the wire. Following Sea was third, with Drain the Clock, Newbomb, and Judge N Jury rounding out the order of finish.

The final time for the seven furlongs was 1.21.39. Find this race's chart here.

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As Advertised: Jackie’s Warrior Narrowly Outslugs Life Is Good in Allen Jerkens

This year's GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. was billed as a match race between current divisional leader Jackie's Warrior and come-backing 'TDN Rising Star' Life is Good (Into Mischief). The race lived up to that and then some with Jackie's Warrior stubbornly holding off a determined and previously undefeated Life is Good for a narrow victory.

The six-horse field moved as one through the opening strides, but 4-5 favorite Life is Good and 3-2 second-choice Jackie's Warrior quickly separated themselves with the former leading the latter by a length through a sharp first quarter in :21.97. Life is Good tugged his way clear beneath Mike Smith, clocking a half in :44.16 with Jackie's Warrior still keeping the pacesetter well within his earshot. Jackie's Warrior moved up the fence to draw even with Life is Good turning for home and the stage was set. Jackie's Warrior jumped about a length clear in early stretch, but Life is Good was not done yet. The 'TDN Rising Star' found more late, charging up on his rival once again, but Jackie's Warrior held tough to win by a neck. It was 8 3/4 lengths back to third-place finisher Following Sea (Runhappy). Winning conditioner Steve Asmussen also saddled GI Forego S. victor Yaupon (Uncle Mo) one race prior, who completed that seven-panel event in 1:21.74 compared to Jackie's Warrior's final time of 1:21.39.

“Jackie was away clean so I wasn't concerned when Life Is Good outbroke him,” Asmussen said. “He was a comfortable horse. Joel [Rosario] has a tremendous amount of confidence in him. He was traveling nicely and wasn't pulling against him or anything. When they threw up :44 1/5 they were rolling along. They separated from the others.”

He continued, “I watched this race from way up in the stretch on the apron and Joel came into the stretch with horse. He's going to run to the wire. It's out of your hands what the other horses are going to do and Mike [Smith] was confident in his horse [Life Is Good], but when [Jackie] got to the head of the stretch the way he did, you had your chance. This horse is incredible.”

“He broke really well and it looked like Life Is Good was very speedy too, so I decided to stay where I was,” said Rosario. “He [Jackie's Warrior] is a nice horse and ran a tremendous race. I felt confident, but Life Is Good was not giving up and a lot of credit to him too, it was a very good race.”

Runner-up Life is Good was considered the early favorite for the GI Kentucky Derby after winning his first three races for Bob Baffert, including an eight-length romp in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 6. The $525,000 KEESEP buy was knocked off the Derby trail after a chip was discovered in his left hind ankle that required surgery. When his recovery was complete, he was transferred to trainer Todd Pletcher along with several other WinStar owned or co-owned horses.

“I thought he ran super,” Pletcher said. “He ran 1:21 1/5 off a long layoff. It was a big effort.”

Smith, who has been aboard Life is Good for all four of his career starts, said, “He never stops trying. It was his first race back. We're asking him to run against probably the best sprinters in the country, if not the world, to be honest with you right now, and for him to run like he did it was pretty incredible.”

Jackie's Warrior ran the table during most of his juvenile season, following his debut win with decisive scores in the GII Saratoga Special S., GI Hopeful S. and GI Champagne S. He found two turns a bit too far when fourth to Essential Quality (Tapit) as the favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in November and lost the Eclipse award to that rival in the process. Tried around two turns once more when making his seasonal bow in a sloppy renewal of Oaklawn's GIII Southwest S., the $95,000 KEESEP buy faded to third behind Essential Quality after setting the early pace. Returning to winning ways when cut back in trip for the GII Pat Day Mile May 1 at Churchill, the bay came up a neck short of Drain the Clock after doing all the heavy lifting in Belmont's GI Woody Stephens S. June 5. Jackie's Warrior got revenge on that rival next out when demolishing him by 7 1/4 lengths in the GII Amsterdam S. over a sloppy Saratoga strip, earning a career best 102 Beyer Speed Figure.

Pedigree Notes:

Jackie's Warrior is one of four top-level scorers for Maclean's Music, a group that includes Drain the Clock. The Maclean's Music/A.P. Indy cross is also responsible for a third member of that quartet, GI Preakness S. victor Cloud Computing. The winner's dam Unicorn Girl summoned $850,000 from Arthur Hoyeau at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. Her now-year-ling colt by American Pharoah preceded her in the ring, bringing $600,000 from Coolmore's M.V. Magnier. Unicorn Girl also has an unraced 2-year-old filly named Lenni Girl (Candy Ride {Arg}). She failed to get in foal to Into Mischief for 2021, but was bred back to that stallion last spring.

Saturday, Saratoga
ALLEN JERKENS MEMORIAL S.-GI, $490,000, Saratoga, 8-28, 3yo, 7f, 1:21.39, ft.
1–JACKIE'S WARRIOR, 124, c, 3, by Maclean's Music
                1st Dam: Unicorn Girl, by A. P. Five Hundred
                2nd Dam: Horah for Bailey, by Doneraile Court
                3rd Dam: Horah for the Lady, by Rahy
($95,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-J. Kirk & Judy Robison; B-J & J
Stables (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joel Rosario. $275,000.
Lifetime Record: 10-7-1-1, $1,333,964.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Life Is Good, 122, c, 3, Into Mischief–Beach Walk, by
Distorted Humor. 'TDN Rising Star' ($525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP).
O-CHC Inc.& WinStar Farm LLC; B-Gary & Mary West Stables
Inc. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $100,000.
3–Following Sea, 118, c, 3, Runhappy–Quick Flip, by
Speightstown. 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Spendthrift Farm LLC
(KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $60,000.
Margins: NK, 8 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 1.55, 0.95, 6.70.
Also Ran: Drain the Clock, Newbomb, Judge N Jury.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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