Division Rankings: Letruska gears up for a difficult repeat

The reigning queen of North American dirt racing, Letruska, is back in training after being freshened from a long campaign in 2021 that saw her run over seven racetracks from coast to coast starting in January and ending in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff. 

The certain Eclipse winner, Letruska won six of eight races, with four of those wins coming in Grade 1 events. 

Scheduled to make her 2022 debut in the Royal Delta Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream in a couple of weeks, can Letruska pull off an Eclipse repeat?

Before I give my brief thoughts on her chances, let's take a look at this week's updated Division Rankings.

Older dirt males

1. Life is Good.  Like Knicks Go last season, this guy followed up a Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile win with a Pegasus World Cup win. Now the leader of this division, he will get tested in his next start from an experienced and tough foe, the No. 2 ranked Hot Rod Charlie.

2. Hot Rod Charlie. Was superb last week in his prep in Dubai for the upcoming World Cup to be held over the same racetrack. Started eight times in 2021, five times in a Grade 1, and ran his heart out each time. No matter who shows up in late March for the Dubai World Cup, this guy will be tough to beat.

3. Mandaloun. Won his first start of the season two weeks ago in the Louisiana Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds, defeating Midnight Bourbon. The Kentucky Derby runner-up from last season also won the Haskell via a DQ. Pointing for the Saudi Cup for his next start, I still am not convinced he can reach the top of this division.

4. Express Train. Has to be ranked here now. His win in last weekend's San Pasqual (G2) comes after his nose win over Hot Rod Charlie in late December. Will run in next month's Santa Anita Handicap.

5. Art Collector Has won half of his 16 career starts and was very good at times last season. Was off the board in the Breeders' Cup Classic but won the Woodward (G1) prior. He is expected to run in the Saudi Cup.

Next 5: Mystic Guide, Americanrevolution, Midnight Bourbon, Happy Saver, Stilleto Boy.

Older dirt females

1. Letruska. Despite her off-the-board finish in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, she was clearly the best in this division in 2021. Will win the Eclipse and be back this season. Back training at Palm Meadows in Florida, she will run in the Royal Delta (G3) on Feb. 26 at Gulfstream.

2. Shedaresthedevil. She too will be back this season, and she deserves this spot based on her record in 2021. She will make her return on March 12 in the Azeri (G2) at Oaklawn Park. 

3. Malathaat. Nearly pulled off the Breeders' Cup Distaff win, losing by less than a length when finishing in third. The Kentucky Oaks and Alabama (G1) winner from last season will be back in 2022.

4. Clairiere. Ran a very nice race against a tough field in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, where it briefly looked like she would win. Instead, she settled for a close fourth, 3/4 of a length from the winner. She had her first work since the Breeders' Cup and could face Shedaresthedevil in the Azeri.

5. Bonny South. Was simply second best in the Fall City (G2) last time out, losing to Envoutante in the slop. Previous to that she was runner-up in two straight Grade 1 events, the Spinster and the Personal Ensign. Her lone win in 2021 came in the Doubledogdare (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Next 5: As Time Goes By, Pauline's Pearl, Search Results, Lady Rocket, Soothsay.

3-year-old males

1. Messier. Has to move to the top based on what he has done in 2022. He ran the fastest race speed-figure-wise, by far, of any 3-year-old. Winning by 15 in the Lewis Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, it will be interesting to see how he runs next out. I'm not a believer just yet, but the No. 1 spot is his for now.

2. White Abarrio. He too has to be ranked here based on his impressive win in the Holy Bull (G3) over a few ranked below. Now 3-for-4 on his career, connections may wait till the Florida Derby (G1) for his next start.

3. Corniche. The Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner still hasn't had a work and likely will not make it back to the races for awhile. Unbeaten in three career starts.
4. Jack Christopher. Had to scratch out of the Breeders' Cup, but previously he won the Champagne (G1) in dominant fashion. He is 2-for-2 on his career. Just returned to trainer Chad Brown's barn after getting about 60 days off to recover from a minor shin ailment. He likely will drop from this spot in the coming weeks with no race in his immediate future and the Kentucky Derby in doubt.
5. Rattle N Roll. Impressive winner of the Breeders' Futurity (G1) last fall, he skipped the Breeders' Cup. He is likely to make his sophomore bow in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on March 12.
Next 8: Smile Happy, Newgrange, Mo Donegal, Slow Down Andy, Major General, Call Me Midnight, Early Voting, Forbidden Kingdom.
3-year-old females

1. Echo Zulu. She was dominant in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, winning by more than five lengths. Completed a 4-for-4 season with three Grade 1 wins, a rarity for 2-year-olds nowadays. Forget the Kentucky Derby talk, we need to see if she returns this season with similar form; remember Vequist from a year ago?

2. Juju's Map. Ran well in the Breeders' Cup but was second best to Echo Zulu. Previously she was the winner of the Alcibiades (G1) as the favorite at Keeneland after breaking her maiden at Ellis Park.
3. Ain't Easy. Facile winner of the Chandelier (G2) at Santa Anita, she is 2-for-2 in her career but skipped the Breeders' Cup and had ankle surgery. Should be back in a month or so.
4. Tarabi. Three starts for this gal, and she has placed in each. She was second to Echo Zulu in the Spinaway (G1) over the summer and finished third to that rival in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
5. Hidden Connection. Disappointed in the Breeders' Cup, finishing fourth. The Midwest star previously had won both her starts, the Pocahontas Stakes (G3) being her last.
Next 7: Adare Manor, Eda, Under the Stars, Secret Oath, Gerrymander, Dance to the Music, Happy Soul.

Turf males

1. Domestic Spending. Had to scratch out of the Breeders' Cup because of injury but likely will still win the Eclipse in this division. Will be back this season with hopes that he runs more than the three times we saw him in 2021.

2. Smooth Like Strait. It was this guy who ran the best of the U.S.-based grass horses in the two major Breeders' Cup grass races last fall. His runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Mile summed up his entire season – tough as nails and always runs his race. Will be back this season.

3. Colonel Liam. Ran huge in defending his Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and seem better than ever, despite his long layoff.

4. Golden Pal. It has been a long time since I ranked a turf sprinter this high, but he deserves it. He ran only four times in 2021, winning three of them. But his Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint was a thing of beauty, dominating from start to finish to post an easy win.

5. Hit the Road. This guy was very good last season, winning a Grade 1 and knocking heads with Smooth Like Strait in a few races. I might have him ranked high here, but I feel like he is in the top tier of this division when right.

Next 5: United, Never Surprised, Gufo, Ivar, Rockemperor.

Turf females

1. War Like Goddess. Tough-luck loser of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she is still tops in this division. A winner of four graded stakes in 2021, including the Flower Bowl (G1) at Belmont Park. The clear leader of this division heading into this season.

2. Going Global. Won six graded stakes last season as a 3-year-old filly. Hasn't left her home state of California since arriving in this country in late 2020 but will have to if she aims to contend for an Eclipse this season

3. Shantisara. Winner of three stakes in a row – and her last, the Queen Elizabeth (G1) at Keeneland, was a powerhouse performance where she won by five. Trainer Chad Brown might have himself another star.

4. Regal Glory. Ran big in winning in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3), previously she won the Matriarch (G1), beating Princess Grace. 

5. Princess Grace. Was on a four-race winning streak, all graded stakes. But in her last two, she was third to Going Global in the Goldikova (G2) and third to Regal Glory in the Matriarch last out. Close for this spot, with Zofelle right behind.

Next 5:  Zofelle, Going to Vegas, Luck, Technical Analysis, Fluffy Socks.

Male sprinters

1. Jackie's Warrior. The likely Eclipse winner from last season, this guy ran a full schedule and ran hard every time. Didn't fire his best shot in the Breeders' Cup, but to be fair, the long season and cross-country trip probably had something to do with that. He deserves this spot over all others, including Flightline, for now.

2. Flightline. Super impressive in his Malibu (G1) win, defeating Dr. Schivel among others. Still, he has only one stakes start and doesn't seem capable of running a full schedule given his three career starts spanning eight months. His connections have stated he will run only four times in 2022 if he stays healthy. His next start won't come until the spring, with the Met Mile (G1) on Belmont day their major target for the first half of the season. Still lots of questions to be answered by this son of Tapit.

3. Dr. Schivel. Disappointed in the Malibu, but given what he did in 2021, he deserves this spot. Will be back in 2022.

4. Aloha West. The Breeders' Cup Sprint winner closed stoutly in the stretch to win by a nose. Still, the Breeders' Cup was his first graded-stakes win. He has to show me a lot more to move up here.

5. Following Sea. Ran well last out in the Cigar Mile (G1) finishing runner-up to Americanrevolution. Prior to that, the Vosburgh (G2) winner ran very well in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, finishing third.

Next 5: Golden Pal, Special Reserve, Ginobili, Baby Yoda, Cezanne.

With one Eclipse award under her belt, Letruska will try this year to pull off the repeat in a division that has yielded the most repeat Eclipse winners.

Since the inception of the Eclipse awards in the early 1970s there have been six repeat winners, but given this list of repeat winners, it will take an extraordinary effort for Letruska to pull off this double. 

Two of the six repeat winners also were awarded Horse of the year, Azeri and Zenyatta. Five of the six have their name in the Hall of Fame, the aforementioned Azeri and Zenyatta, along with Bayakoa, Paseana and Royal Delta. Beholder, the last to repeat, soon will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. 

The season did not end well for Letruska last fall in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff as a suicidal speed dual on the front end ended her chances early. Preserved through the stretch by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., Letruska was shipped to southern Florida for rest. The schedule this year for Letruska will be light as compared to last year, with fewer races and less traveling as her connections will try to get her back to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff for a chance at redemption. 

This year the Breeders’ Cup will be run over a Keeneland track they know she loves - she won the Spinster (G1) there last fall. After her start at Gulfstream, plans are for a spring start and then a light summer campaign with five races likely the plan prior to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. 

But first things first; we have no idea what Letruska will show us in two weeks. Letruska is now 6 and nothing is certain in this game. Older mares can quickly sour on racing, and couple that with her long and hard campaign in 2021, I am somewhat skeptical she can repeat the form she showed last season. Look no further than Swiss Skydiver’s 2021 season, which came after a historic 2020 season which saw her run 10 times from coast to coast. She was never really the same after her off-the-board Breeders’ Cup Distaff result. 

Already a legend in Mexico where she started her career, maybe Letruska can add her name to the elite list of repeat winners of this division and someday join them in the Hall of Fame.