Division Rankings: Letruska has unfinished business in 2022

Two Eclipse Award winners from 2021 are back in training with one goal in mind: a chance to complete unfinished business in the Breeders’ Cup.

Last week it was Jackie’s Warrior's successful return to the races for the first time since his Breeders’ Cup Sprint debacle as the prohibitive favorite. This week, Letruska takes another step toward avenging her Breeders’ Cup Distaff debacle from last fall, in the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn.

I spent time with Letruska and her trainer, Fausto Gutierrez, the day after that Breeders' Cup defeat at their Del Mar barn. One thing was made clear to me: getting back to the Breeders' Cup to avenge that loss was the primary goal.

Before I talk more about Letruska, let’s take a look at this week’s updated Division Rankings.

Older dirt males

1. Country Grammer. Sensational in both of his starts overseas, he was a facile winner of the Dubai World Cup (G1). Before that, he was a close runner-up in the Saudi Cup (G1), his first start in nine months. He will return to the U.S. now and be back in late summer.

2. Hot Rod Charlie. Struggling midway through the Dubai World Cup, he looked to be in serious trouble but gathered himself and ran a solid second on a day where he might not have been his best. If the Breeders' Cup Classic were held today, he would be the second betting choice.

3. Express Train. Now 2-for-2 on the season, this guy is in the best form of his career. He finally broke through in a Grade 1, winning the Santa Anita Handicap. A winner of three in a row, he defeated Hot Rod Charlie in late December as well. He will point to the Californian Stakes (G2) later this month for his next start, but I'm still not sure he can compete with the top two at 10 furlongs.

4. Life Is Good. A textbook example of a horse who, while very good at eight to nine furlongs, just wasn't the same when stretching out to 10 furlongs. That was the fear here all along with this guy. He had a clear lead in the stretch of the Dubai World Cup but faded in the last 200 yards to finish fourth. He most certainly will cut back in distance moving forward in an attempt to get back to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

5. Midnight Bourbon. We learned the news of the tragic loss of this horse on Wednesday, after he got ill and unexpectedly died on Sunday. I will have to remove him from this list next week, but he will be sorely missed.

Next 5: Olympiad, Warrant, Mandaloun, Speakers Corner, Rated R Superstar.

Older dirt females

1. Letruska. Looked good in her return to the races, a three-length win in the Royal Delta (G3) at Gulfstream. Refreshed and ready for 2022, she will go in the Apple Blossom (G1) at Oaklawn this weekend.

2. Ce Ce. Defeated a strong field in the Azeri (G2) last time out; Pauline's Pearl and Shedaresthedevil were second and third, respectively. Still believe she will end up back sprinting, as she will find the going tough at nine furlongs. Will try to beat Letruka this weekend in the Apple Blossom.

3. Shedaresthedevil. Returned in the Azeri and ran OK when finishing third to Ce Ce. Will wait for the Churchill Downs meet.

4. Clairiere. Solid in her comeback, albeit in an allowance. Previously she 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 length from the winner. She too returns in the Apple Blossom.

5. Pauline's Pearl. Very good in both of her starts this season, winning the Houston Ladies Classic (G3) and narrowly losing to Ce Ce in the Azeri at Oaklawn. Will now point to the La Troienne (G1) at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby weekend.

Next 5: Malathaat, Miss Bigly, Bonny South, Search Results, Lady Rocket.

3-year-old males

1. Epicenter. Really impressed me with his Louisiana Derby (G2) win, showing a new dimension in coming from slightly off the pace. He has most certainly put himself in position for Kentucky Derby glory, and I love the fact that he had three races this year – plus a race in late December. His only loss in his last five starts was a neck loss in the Lecomte (G3) earlier this season. Appears to have all the tools and foundation to be a serious player this spring. The clear No. 1 right now.
2. White Abarrio. Impressed again with his win in the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream, and before that he scored an impressive win in the Holy Bull (G3). He too appears to be a serious player moving forward. But all of his wins have come at Gulfstream, and he might have been the recipient of good racing luck when the runner-up, Charge It, ran green in the stretch and basically handed him the win.
3. Taiba. Super impressive in his Santa Anita Derby (G1) win, which came after only one start, a maiden win. I have no idea what to make of this guy, and the Kentucky Derby against 19 others is a very big ask.

4. Messier. Ran a better than it looked in the Santa Anita Derby, and I believe he could be a major player in the Kentucky Derby. Perhaps I have him ranked a bit too high here? Perhaps his best distances will be nine furlongs and under? Something tells me he will be in the thick of things at Churchill Downs in the stretch.
5. Mo Donegal. Certainly lived up to the hype in his Wood Memorial (G2) win, where he rode the rail in a ground-saving trip to beat Early Voting. Doesn't have the ideal running style nowadays for the Kentucky Derby, but he certainly looks to be a contender for the underneath spots.
Next 7: Zandon, Simplification, Smile Happy, Cyberknife, Charge It, Forbidden Kingdom, Early Voting.
3-year-old females

1. Echo Zulu. Made her 3-year-old debut and was all out to hold off Hidden Connection for the win in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2). Clearly, this was not the same dominant filly we saw at age two, and the added distance of the Kentucky Oaks makes her a huge underlay for that expected next start. Several others in this division already have run faster than her this season.
2. Secret Oath. Ran much better than I envisioned when third in the Arkansas Derby (G1), and now will head to the Kentucky Oaks. A different horse now at age three than she was at age two, it will be interesting to see how she responds in the Kentucky Oaks after a taxing effort against the boys.
3. Nest. Dominant in both of her starts this season, she looked like she could be the best in her division last out in the Ashland (G1) at Keeneland. She might be the best of all of these.

4. Kathleen O. Perfect in four career starts, her latest win came in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2). Certainly will be among the favorites on Kentucky Oaks Day and might very well be the best in this division right now, but I still have doubts about her going longer.
5. Adare Manor. Was upset in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2), but before that she was dominant in two starts. She won her graded stakes debut, the Las Virgenes (G3), by 13 lengths. Will likely head to the Kentucky Oaks now but not with the same hype she had a week ago.

Next 5: Desert Dawn, Eda, Hidden Connection, Tarabi, Goddess of Fire.

Turf males

1. Golden Pal. Finally reaches this top spot, and it's deserved. Was dominant in his 2022 debut last out at Keeneland, a win in the Shakertown (G2). The Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner from last season now will head to Royal Ascot.

2. Colonel Liam. He found the waters a bit too deep in the Dubai Turf (G1), where he finished ninth. Previously he ran huge in defending his Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) and seemed better than ever despite his long layoff. There is a wide gap between grass horses in this country and overseas.

3. Gufo. Always highly regarded, he hasn't really lived up to expectations as of yet, but he surely started his 2022 season off right with a facile two-length win in the Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream.

4. Smooth Like Strait. Ran a decent third in his first start of 2022 in last week's Makers Mark Mile (G1), losing by a nose and a neck. I won't lie, I expected him to win the race. Still feel he is top five in this division. 

5. Domestic Spending. Had to scratch out of the Breeders' Cup because of injury. Will be back this season with hopes that he runs more than the three times we saw him in 2021. Will continue to drop if he doesn't run soon.

Next 5: Shirl's Speight, Count Again, Two Emmys, Hit the Road, Masen.

Turf females

1. Regal Glory. Has to move to No. 1 based on her season thus far, a win in the Pegasus Filly & Mare Turf (G3) and now last week's win in the Jenny Wiley (G1) at Keeneland over a strong field.

2. War Like Goddess. Tough-luck loser of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, she still is among the best in this division. A winner of four graded stakes in 2021, including the Flower Bowl (G1) at Belmont Park. Robbed of an Eclipse last year, she is back in training.

3. 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. Returned two weeks ago with a win in the Royal Heroine (G2) at Santa Anita.

4. Shantisara. Was a strong runner-up to the No. 1 ranked Regal Glory in the Jenny Wiley (G1). Before that she was a winner of three stakes in a row.

5. In Italian. Won the Honey Fox (G3) last time out and looks to be another Chad Brown star on the rise.

Next 5: Leggs Galore, Going to Vegas, Queen Goddess, Luck, Technical Analysis.

Male sprinters

1. Jackie's Warrior. The Eclipse winner from last season made a successful return to the races last weekend, winning the Count Fleet Sprint (G3) at Oaklawn. Will head to Churchill Downs for stakes on Derby weekend next.

2. Golden Pal. Could contend for this Eclipse if he keeps things going. Simply dominant as turf sprinter, he heads to Royal Ascot next after his facile win in the Shakertown two weeks ago at Keeneland.

3. Dr. Schivel. Ran a good third in Dubai in the Golden Shaheen (G1) in his first start of 2022. Previously he disappointed in the Malibu, but given what he did in 2021, he deserves this spot for now. Will return in late July at Del Mar.

4. Flightline. Dominant in his three starts, he hasn't run since last December. He could run in June's Met Mile (G1), but that is a 50-50 chance, in my opinion. Will continue to drop if he doesn't run.

5. Following Sea. Ran well last out in the Cigar Mile (G1), finishing runner-up to Americanrevolution. Before that, the Vosburgh (G2) winner ran very well in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, finishing third. He too will continue to drop if he doesn't run.

Next 5: Speakers Corner, Baby Yoda, Cezanne, Special Reserve, Essential Wager.

Female sprinters

1. Edgeway. Last season's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint runner-up is 2-for-2 on the season, her last win coming in the Las Flores (G3) at Santa Anita. She will run next on Kentucky Derby weekend in the Derby City Distaff (G1).

2. Just One Time. Certainly looked like one of  the best in this division winning the Madison (G1) at Keeneland. Before that, she scored in the Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream.

3. Ce Ce. Last season's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner was beaten by Merneith in her first start of 2022, the Santa Monica (G2) at Santa Anita. Last time out she stretched out to win the Azeri (G2) at 1 1/16 miles. Will take on Letruska this weekend.

4. Bell's the One. Finished a good runner-up in the Madison (G1) and is still among the best in this division. Last season she was a four-time stakes winner, two of which were graded.

5. Obligatory. Last year at age three she tried the best in her division in several Grade 1 events. She looks to be better sprinting, and last time out won the Hurricane Bertie (G3) by three lengths.

Next 5: Kimari, Fille d'Esprit, Kiss the Girl, Kalypso, Private Mission.

As soon as that first quarter mile split was posted as the horses made rounded the first turn of the Del Mar oval in last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the race was over for the prohibitive favorite, Letruska.

The 10-1 shot, Private Mission, was sent to the lead at all costs to challenge the front-running Letruska. Private Mission did grab that early lead, posting early fractions of 21.84 and 44.97 seconds. Letruska was in hot pursuit a length back, but the damage already had been done. 

Letruska went too fast too early, and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. knew it and never used the crop, preserving the multiple Grade 1 winner through the stretch and easing her to the wire. It was easily Letruska’s worst career race.

Freshened after a winter break, Letruska returned in late February at Gulfstream in the Royal Delta Stakes, posting a facile three-length win. Now the Letruska camp is back at Oaklawn to defend her Apple Blossom title from a year ago.

When talking to trainer Fausto Gutierrez after the Breeders’ Cup, he told me that things will be slightly different for Letruska in 2022. Less traveling and fewer races were at the top of the list, along with bringing their stable star back to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in peak form.

You have to remember, the last season started for Letruska in January. Also, the Breeders’ Cup was not the main goal as Letruska was still just a Grade 3 winner in this country and was off the board in her lone Grade 1 try. Running five times in five months to start the season, she had a busy schedule. She made nine starts overall in 2021, and although that speed duel played a part in her loss last fall, I don’t believe she was in top form. The travel and races had caught up to her in California.

Her schedule will be much lighter this season.

Should things go according to plan this weekend, look for Letruska to be back in New York on Belmont Stakes weekend for the Ogden Phipps (G1), a race she won last year. Then, you could see her for one race at Saratoga followed by a final prep for the Breeder’s Cup in the Spinster Stakes (G1) over the Keeneland track, which will host the Breeders’ Cup. Yes, the Spinster was another race this mare won last season.

As for the Apple Blossom this weekend, make no mistake – despite the presence of another Eclipse award winner, sprint champ Ce Ce, all eyes are on Letruska. For a five-horse field, the Apple Blossom came up very strong. Four of the entrants are Grade 1 winners, with Clairiere and Maracuja also in the field. But Letruska beat a stronger field in this same race last year, defeating Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver.

She’s been here before, and I fully expect Letruska to take care of business this weekend as she continues on her path to redemption in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.