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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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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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Savage! Yaupon Survives in Wild Stretch Battle in Forego

You had to see it to believe it.

With Firenze Fire (Poseidon's Warrior) savaging favored Yaupon (c, 4, Uncle Mo–Modification, by Vindication) repeatedly down the stretch in Saturday's GI Forego S. at Saratoga, the 2-1 pacesetter battled on gamely along the rail to secure a dramatic head victory. Chance It (Currency Swap) was third.

“I will watch that replay many times in my future,” winning trainer Steve Asmussen said. “For that to happen in a Grade I at Saratoga with two horses on the lead, that will be memorable. I was worried he was going to bite Ricardo [Santana, Jr.].”

He continued, “Everybody's always known what a brilliant horse he is, the talent that he's shown and for him to show up today on a stage and beat five Grade I winners was amazing.”

Santana added, “That was kind of scary. That never happened to me before and the only thing I can think is don't stop riding.”

Yaupon led narrowly through fractions of :23.09 and :45.70 with Firenze Fire in hot pursuit, and the stage was set as they turned for home. The two raced shoulder to shoulder in the stretch with Firenze Fire savaging his rival inside the final sixteenth of a mile, biting at his halter. Yaupon never blinked, however, and kept on battling to secure the narrow victory. Three years ago, ironically, it was Firenze Fire who was savaged late by Whereshetoldmetogo (El Padrino) in a winning effort in the GIII Gallant Bob S. at Parx.

Yaupon, a sharp winner of last summer's GII Amsterdam S. at Saratoga, entered off a win over three rivals with a co-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure in Pimlico's Lite the Fuse S. July 4. A perfect four-for-four to start his career, headed by Pimlico's GIII Chick Lang S. Oct. 1, Yaupon concluded his sophomore season with a disappointing eighth as the favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland Nov. 7. He was eighth once again in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan in his first start this term Mar. 27.

Champion sprinter, 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and 8-year-old fan favorite Whitmore (Pleasantly Perfect) was pulled up and vanned off with an apparent left front leg injury after finishing fifth and has been retired. He walked onto the van under his own power. “Whitmore is okay and is resting comfortably at the barn,” a Tweet from Moquett Racing read. “Although his injury is small in nature, when he walks out of Stall 19 and gets on the van to go home, it will be as a retired champion.”

Pedigree Notes:

Yaupon, a $255,000 OBS June acquisition (:10), is one of 40 graded winners for leading sire Uncle Mo, a smashing debut winner and 'TDN Rising Star' on the Travers undercard himself back in 2010. Yaupon is the second graded runner out of Modification, whose Sawyer's Hill (Spring At Last) was second in both the 2014 GII Del Mar Derby and GII Twilight Derby.

Her unraced 2-year-old filly Royal Flower (American Pharoah) brought $1.2 million from Mike G. Rutherford at last year's Keeneland September sale. Modification, who is a half-sister to GSW Sky Alliance (Sky Classic), delivered a colt by Good Magic in 2020. The 2009 GI Humana Distaff S. third-place finisher was bred to Curlin for 2022. She brought $195,000 from Betz Thoroughbreds at the 2010 KEENOV Sale.

Saturday, Saratoga
FOREGO S.-GI, $600,000, Saratoga, 8-28, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:21.74, ft.
1–YAUPON, 118, c, 4, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Modification (GISP, $166,116), by Vindication
2nd Dam: Swift Alliance, by Afleet
3rd Dam: Stately Bride, by Tom Rolfe
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($350,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $485,000 RNA
2yo '19 FTFMAR; $255,000 2yo '19 OBSOPN). O-L. William and
Corinne Heiligbrodt; B-Betz, Lamantia, CoCo Equine, Magers,
Burns (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Ricardo Santana, Jr.
$320,000. Lifetime Record: 8-6-0-0, $703,264. *1/2 to
Sawyer's Hill (Spring At Last), MGSP, $366,705. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++
*Triple Plus*.
2–Firenze Fire, 122, h, 6, Poseidon's Warrior–My Every Wish, by
Langfuhr. O-Mr. Amore Stable; B-Mr Amore Stables (FL);
T-Kelly J. Breen. $112,000.
3–Chance It, 118, c, 4, Currency Swap–Vagabon Diva, by
Pleasantly Perfect. O-Shooting Star Thoroughbreds, LLC;
B-Bett Usher (FL); T-Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.. $60,000.
Margins: HD, 2HF, NO. Odds: 2.00, 8.70, 19.20.
Also Ran: Mind Control, Whitmore, Mischevious Alex, Doubly Blessed, Lexitonian.
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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Gamine Too Tough in Ballerina

Gamine kicked off the Grade I action at Saratoga Saturday with a front-running score in the GI Ballerina H. Away alertly from her rail draw, the heavy favorite went straight to the front and was pushed along by Estilo Talentoso (Maclean's Music) through an opening quarter in :23.20 and a half in :45.68 with Lake Avenue in tow. Showing the way into the lane, the bay filly was kept to task by pilot John Velazquez, drawing clear for a facile victory. Lake Avenue held second and fellow California raider Cece completed the trifecta. The Ballerina is a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint at Del Mar in November.

“The :23 felt pretty comfortable, :45 was pretty comfortable,” said Bob Baffert's assistant Jimmy Barnes. “[They were gaining on her] slightly, but once Johnny got her to switch leads, I wasn't really concerned. They were moving but we were still running. She sure does enjoy New York. She's been good and solid. The Gamine machine–that's her.”

“I'm a very happy man,” said owner Michael Lund Petersen. “I was very nervous today, only because she was giving so much weight away [126 pounds], so you just never know. I was thrilled to see she got the start we wanted. From there, I was just hoping she would hold on.”

Opening her account with a trio of victories, including an 18 3/4-length tour de force in the GI Acorn S. last June, Gamine romped by seven lengths in the GI Test S. at the Spa in August. Third as the favorite when extended to nine furlongs for the GI Kentucky Oaks, the $1.8 million EASMAY purchase dominated the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint in November, to clinch the Eclipse Award for top female sprinter. Romping in the GIII Las Flores S. Apr. 4 at Santa Anita, the bay wired the GI Derby City Distaff S. at Churchill May 1 and demolished the field by 10 lengths in the GII Great Lady M. S. last time at Los Alamitos July 5.

Pedigree Notes:

Gamine is one of 10 Grade I winners and 44 graded victors for super sire Into Mischief. Her stakes-placed dam Peggy Jane is also the dam of the 3-year-old colt Splashtown (Speightstown), a $300,000 FTKOCT purchase raced in a partnership between breeder Stonestreet Stables and Starlight Racing. The Todd Pletcher trainee finished eighth in his lone start at Gulfstream in May. Peggy Jane's recent produce includes an unraced juvenile filly by Ghostzapper, a yearling colt by Kantharos and a 2021 colt by Into Mischief. She was bred back to that Spendthrift kingpin. This is also the family of Canadian champion Dynamic Sky (Sky Mesa).

Saturday, Saratoga
KETEL ONE BALLERINA H.-GI, $500,000, Saratoga, 8-28, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:21.61, ft.
1–GAMINE, 126, f, 4, by Into Mischief
1st Dam: Peggy Jane (SP, $102,050), by Kafwain
2nd Dam: Seattle Splash, by Chief Seattle
3rd Dam: Grand Splash, by Bucksplasher
($220,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP; $1,800,000 2yo '19 EASMAY).
O-Michael Lund Petersen; B-Grace Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
(KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R. Velazquez. $275,000. Lifetime
Record: 10-9-0-0, $1,681,500. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Lake Avenue, 119, f, 4, by Tapit
1st Dam: Seventh Street (MGISW, $716,000), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Holiday Runner, by Meadowlake
3rd Dam: Dixie Holiday, by Dixieland Band
O/B-Godolphin, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott. $100,000.
3–Ce Ce, 123, m, 5, by Elusive Quality
1st Dam: Miss Houdini (GISW, $187,600), by Belong to Me
2nd Dam: Magical Maiden, by Lord Avie
3rd Dam: Gils Magic, by Magesterial
O/B-Bo Hirsch LLC (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. $60,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, 1 1/4, NK. Odds: 0.35, 18.00, 4.10.
Also Ran: Sconsin, Estilo Talentoso, Truth Hurts, Casual.
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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