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First Grade 1 for daughter of Super Saver
Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) sired his fifth Grade 1 winner courtesy of Letruska’s (5 m ex Magic Appeal by Successful Appeal) hard fought victory over multiple top-flight winner Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) in the Apple Blossom Handicap (Gr 1, 8.5f) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday.
After leaving the stalls awkwardly, the five-year-old mare was ridden into the lead by Irad Ortiz jr and after being headed by Monomoy Girl inside the final furlong, she fought back to come away with a nose victory. The pair pulled well clear of Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who was another six and a half lengths away in third.
"I never dreamed of running at Saratoga and now we won the Apple Blossom. I need to wake up," said winning trainer Fausto Gutierrez. "It's so sensational. This sport is incredible and this is an example of why.
"This horse started her career (in Mexico City). We had the confidence to send her here (to the United States) and she started to improve, improve and improve. She's run at different tracks. She's run at Sam Houston, Saratoga, Gulfstream. She's a very tough horse, but this is the best result she's had in her career."
Bred in Kentucky, Letruska started her career in Mexico, but was transferred back to the US in 2019 and since her return her victories have all come at Grade 3 level, most recently in the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) on January 31.
The mare is out of winning Successful Appeal (Valid Appeal) mare Magic Appeal, making her a half-sister to Trigger Warning (Candy Ride).
Magic Appeal herself is out of Listed winner Call Her Magic (Caller I.D.) - the dam of Grade 1 scorer J P’s Gusto (Successful Appeal), while she is the grandam of Grade 2 winner Miss Mischief (Into Mischief) and Listed winner Swagger Jagger (Crown Of Thorns).
Letruska joins Runhappy, Competitive Edge, Happy Saver and Embellish The Lace as Super Saver’s other top-flight winners and having stood at WinStar Farm in the early part of his career he was transferred to Turkish Jockey Club in 2019.