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Swiss Skydiver, ridden by Robby Albarado, outduels Authentic, ridden by John Velazquez, to win the Preakness Stakes during Preakness Stakes Day at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Scott Serio/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM
Swiss Skydiver has taken her show on the road here, there and yonder while notching six graded stakes triumphs over five different racetracks. On Saturday, the 2020 Champion 3-Year-Old Filly will vie to reign supreme over a new oval when taking on a compact but classy field in the 53rd running of the Grade 1, $500,000 Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park.
The prestigious 1 1/16-mile test for older fillies and mares is a Breeders Cup “Win And You re In” qualifier, offering the winner an automatic entry into the Distaff on November 6 at Del Mar.
Letruska Fires Bullet in Return to Tab at Keeneland bloodhorse.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bloodhorse.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Essential Quality Retains His Lead In NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll Sponsored by:
Undefeated Essential Quality
Undefeated Essential Quality, the likely favorite for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve on May 1, remains at the top of this week s National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top 3-Year-Old Poll.
Essential Quality, a striking gray Godolphin homebred, trained by Brad Cox, breezed five furlongs in 59.60 on Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. He is undefeated in five starts, including his most recent victory in the Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 3. The Eclipse Award-winning two-year-old male of 2020 received 34 first-place votes and 373 points in this week s poll.
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Fausto Gutierrez, trainer of Apple Blossom winner Letruska
Letruska will remain at Oaklawn for the next few days before possibly heading to Churchill Downs, her trainer, Fausto Gutierrez, said Sunday morning, roughly 12 hours after the Mexican champion edged two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl in the $1 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares at the Hot Springs, Ark., track.
Letruska earned a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 102, a career high, for her front-running nose victory under Irad Ortiz Jr. Gutierrez said Letruska came out of the 1 1/16-mile race in good order, but next-race plans are pending for the 5-year-old daughter of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner and Arkansas Derby runner-up Super Saver. Letruska was coming off a runner-up finish, beaten a head by Shedaresthedevil, in the $350,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 13 at Oaklawn.
Highly Motivated Looks Derby Ready; Viva Letruska; Maryland Racing Woes
By Mike Farrell
We’re headed for a quiet week on the stakes front, a bit of calm before the Kentucky Derby (G1) storm.
Most of the action will center on solidifying the field of 20 for the Derby. It’s all about the qualifying points who has them and who moves up and into the race with each higher-ranked defection.
Essential Quality remains front and center as the Derby favorite, solidly on course for the race while many of his expected rivals have dropped out.
Essential Quality – Photo Courtesy of Keeneland / Coady Photography