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Letruksa Runs ‘Em Off Their Feet in Fleur de Lis

Entering this test on the back of a pair of Grade I wins, Letruska (Super Saver) was installed as the overwhelming favorite at 4-5 and more than justified those odds, running an overmatched field off their feet in Churchill's GII Fleur de Lis S. This event was a “Win and You're In” for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff in November at Del Mar.

Veering right a bit exiting her outside post, Letruska went straight to the front under Jose Ortiz and clocked opening splits of :24.533 and :48.19 with Antoinette (Hard Spun) prompting from second. Still under a hand ride from Ortiz turning for home, the bay opened up with ease in the lane to win for fun. Antoinette held second and Envoutante (Uncle Mo) completed the trifecta.

“She's a spectacular horse,” said trainer Fausto Gutierrez. “I don't really like to say what's next but she was great today. We know she's a really nice dirt horse and is supposed to win at different racetracks and different conditions for a possible Horse of the Year campaign.”

“There was a little question mark coming into this race off three weeks rest but I knew Fausto is a great trainer and he'd have her ready,” Ortiz said. “She is a really nice mare and she was ready today. She got to the front pretty easy and she was comfortable the entire way around there.”

Undefeated in her native Mexico, Letruska captured her U.S. debut in the Copa Invitacional Del Caribe S. in December of 2019. Her first American graded victory came in Saratoga's GIII Shuvee S. last August, but faded to fourth after setting the pace next out in Belmont's GII Beldame Invitational S. in October. Romping in Gulfstream's GIII Rampart S. Dec. 12, the bay captured the GIII Houston Ladies Classic Jan. 31 and missed by a head to MGISW Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in Oaklawn's GII Azeri S. Mar. 13. She faced even stiffer competition next out in the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 17 in champions Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil). Letruska showed she was more than up for the challenge, denying two-time Eclipse winner Monomoy Girl by a nose with Swiss Skydiver in third. The 5-year-old followed suit with a decisive wire-to-wire score in Belmont's GI Ogden Phipps S. June 5 stamping herself as the clear divisional leader.

Pedigree Notes:

Letruska is one of five Grade I winners, 13 graded scorers and 29 black-type victors by Super Saver. Her GSP dam Magic Appeal is a full-sister to Grade I winner J P's Gusto. The 14-year-old mare's recent produce includes a juvenile colt named Ocotzingo (Hard Spun); a yearling colt by the late Arrogate; and a filly by the recently deceased Malibu Moon, born May 5. This is also the family of Eclipse winner Proud Spell (Proud Citizen) and Canadian champion Miss Mischief (Into Mischief).

Saturday, Churchill Downs
FLEUR DE LIS S.-GII, $300,000, Churchill Downs, 6-26, 4yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8m, 1:48.57, 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-Jose L.
Ortiz. $184,140. Lifetime Record: 20-15-1-1, $1,616,459.
*1/2 to Trigger Warning (Candy Ride (ARG)), MSW & GISP,
$555,378. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Werk Nick Rating: A.
2–Antoinette, 119, f, 4, Hard Spun–Shuruq, by Elusive Quality.
O/B-Godolphin, LLC (KY); T-William I. Mott. $59,400.
3–Envoutante, 119, f, 4, Uncle Mo–Enchante, by Bluegrass Cat.
($250,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Walking L Thoroughbreds, LLC
and Three Chimneys Farm; B-Jumping Jack Racing LLC (KY);
T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $29,700.
Margins: 5 3/4, 3/4, 2HF. Odds: 0.70, 22.30, 2.30.
Also Ran: Point of Honor, Spice Is Nice, Vault. 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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Gaffalione Secures Fourth Straight Churchill Riding Title

With one day of racing remaining at the spring meet, jockey Tyler Gaffalione secured his fourth-straight title at Churchill Downs and fifth overall. Through 37 days of racing, the 26-year-old recorded 47 wins from 215 starters. He led second-place Ricardo Santana, Jr. by 17 wins at the end of Friday's card.

“We've been extremely fortunate to ride some top-class horses this meet,” Gaffalione said. “It's been a wild meet overall but very successful. I'm very grateful to everyone who helped me get to this point.”

Following Saturday's closing day card, Gaffalione plans to take some time off in Florida before heading to Saratoga for that meet which begins July 15.

Leading trainer and owner were decided during Saturday's closing card with Brad Cox taking home the training title and Juddmonte and Three Diamonds Farm tying for the owner title.

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Woodbine to Welcome Back Spectators July 1

Woodbine Racetrack will allow spectators–at 25% capacity in the grandstand and on the track apron–beginning on Canada Day, July 1. “We are thrilled to be able to open our doors on Canada Day and welcome back our owners and some spectators to the track who have been dearly missed,” said Jim Lawson, CEO, Woodbine Entertainment. “We have been operating live racing for a couple of weeks now, but it's just not the same with empty stands. We are thankful to the government for entrusting us to safely welcome back a limited number of spectators.” Reservations will be required to attend the races. Click here for more information.

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Keeneland September To Feature Two-Day Book 1 Format With a Twist

The Keeneland September Sale will kick off with a new two-day Book 1 format, with RNAs from day one having the opportunity to be offered again at the end of Book 1's day two.

“As we come in here with a fresh perspective, we obviously have to try to find the best balance between what works for the seller and what works for the buyer and alleviate the major concerns they both have,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy. “If we ignore those concerns, we're not doing a very good job listening.”

The news was first revealed in a letter to consignors Friday from Lacy which reads as follows:

“I wanted to keep you closely informed with regards the creation of this year's September Sale catalogue. As we shared a few weeks ago, our goal was to conduct a three-day Book 1. This format had worked extremely well in the past and received broad support from sellers. However, as we have worked through the entries, it has become apparent that we must focus on a two-day Book 1, as it was in 2020.

“As we strive to create a stable and consistent format, we are aware of the fear of being drawn early in the catalogue during Book 1. This is a concern we are committed to addressing and creating a safeguard to protect the best interests of the seller.

“Therefore, we intend to allow RNAs that sellers feel were disadvantaged by an early hip number to be re-offered after the last hip on the second day of Book 1. This opportunity will come at no additional cost if the horse RNAs a second time. Our intent is to provide horses an opportunity to be considered by buyers who may not have looked at Book 1 horses, as they will have finished looking at Book 2 horses earlier that afternoon.

“Creating confidence and excitement for Keeneland September Book 1 is one of my primary goals. This will not happen overnight, but we are committed to delivering the buzz. Over the last decade, the Book 1 averages have remained very stable no matter the format. Book 2's numbers are approximately half that of Book 1, so it is vital that we continue to grow the beginning of the sale for the mutual benefit of sellers and buyers, who want to have a critical mass of diverse yearlings to inspect.

I'm keenly aware of the needs of each of our sellers this September and I appreciate your continued feedback and support.”

Reached Saturday, Lacy confirmed the new format, which will feature a dark day Wednesday, after the two-day Book 1 and before a two-day Book 2. “This is not done in a vacuum,” said Lacy. “This is not being imposed on people. It has been circulated among a core group of people who supported it heavily and wanted to try it. Not everything works, but we've got to try.”

“It's an idea I've had for two or three years now; after hearing people say, `I'm okay with Book 1 as long as it's not day one,” said Lacy. “It's an anxiety that I want to recognize and that Keeneland wants to recognize. If there's something we can do to offset the potential problematic aspects of that, we want to try to approach it.”

Lacy said that in a perfect world, he believed that a three-day Book 1 is the ideal scenario. “A three-day Book 1 format works. It is a great format. It has been proven to work. The last time it was implemented was 2019. It was a fantastic year, and Book 1 was very solid, as was Book 2. But I think it's important that we nip the anxiety in the bud and try to rectify it.”

Lacy said that there would be parameters set on the the amount that a seller could modify the initial reserve price. “If people feel like it was a matter of timing in the morning, or the market hadn't just warmed up yet, we're going to put parameters around the reserves so they can't be adjusted beyond those parameters. You'll be able to adjust a little bit, but not a lot.”

Lacy said he felt the format offered benefits to buyers and sellers alike. “It's not all to the benefit of the seller,” he said. “It can also be beneficial to the buyer, who may like a horse later in the day and who might overlook some horses early. They may be able to come back and take a second look at the ones they overlooked early.”

In the end, said Lacy, perfecting the September Sale is a long game.

“We're trying to create stability,” he said. “We're playing long ball. As the September sale evolves and grows, it's really the key yearling sale for the industry. We represent the industry and we're critically conscious of it. At the end of the day, we're trying to think outside of the box to create something that allows people to feel that being in Book 1 is a great place to be.”

The Keeneland September Sale kicks off Monday, September 13. Book 1 is Monday-Tuesday, with the dark day Wednesday.

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