Letruska wins Spinster; Gutiérrez all but says no to Classic

Lexington, Ky.

Letruska did what she was supposed to do as the 2-5 post time favorite in the Grade 1, $500,000, Spinster Stakes at Keeneland on Sunday, breaking from the gate in first place and wiring the other six horses in the field. The 5-year-old Super Saver mare earned her fourth Breeders’ Cup Distaff “win and you’re in” victory with the effort.

Letruska can now go into the Distaff on Nov. 6 at Del Mar as the obvious favorite. Trainer Fausto Gutiérrez said she likely will, and he poured cold water on any notions of the mare instead running in the Classic.

“All the time it’s possible,” Gutiérrez said after the race, “but I think we need to be not exactly realists, but we need to go in the group where she is right now one of the top contenders.”

The opening quarter-mile went by in a lackadaisical 24.0 seconds, the first three quarters in 1:12.52. After the race, Gutiérrez said it could not have set up any better for the mare.

“This is the perfect race that she needed to have,” Gutiérrez said. “These fractions, she had the chance to relax, to feel the other horse, and to have the energy for the end.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. had the mount in the Spinster and was full of praise for Letruska after the race.

“She moved really, really good down the back side,” Ortiz said. “Then when I asked her she responded really well.”

Ortiz also said Letruska did an exceptional job relaxing early in the race, not expending too much energy before it was needed. Gutiérrez agreed with the jockey.

“She knows what she’s doing,” Gutiérrez said.

Letruska’s winning time was 1:49.01 over a fast main track, with a final margin of 1 3/4 lengths.

It was the mare’s fifth consecutive graded-stakes victory, having previously won the Personal Ensign (G1), Fleur de Lis (G2), Ogden Phipps (G1) and Apple Blossom (G1). She won the Houston Ladies Classic and finished second in the Azeri (G2) early this year.

Letruska returned $2.80 for the win. Dunbar Road (9-2) finished second, and Bonny South (6-1) completed the trifecta.