Plans Form for St. George's Letruska, Math Wizard

St. George Stables' Letruska, a finalist for the 2021 Eclipse Award for older dirt female, returned to the work tab Jan. 16 for the first time since the Breeders' Cup World Championships in November at Del Mar as she prepares for a 6-year-old campaign. The Super Saver mare is a staple of the St. George operation, which also added grade 1 winner Math Wizard to its ranks at the recent Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale. Letruska put in a three-furlong breeze at Palm Meadows Training Center going :37 1/5 easily for trainer Fausto Gutierrez. "She worked today at Palm Meadows. She made nice work, in my opinion. I like how she is feeling since coming back," Gutierrez said. "We are aiming to take her to the Royal Delta (G3) at Gulfstream Park Feb. 26." Letruska was last seen contesting the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 6, in which she chased the early hot pace past the three-eighths pole before fading to finish 10th as the favorite. Japan's Marche Lorraine (JPN) rallied for an upset win. "After the Breeders' Cup, she shipped back to Ocala and had a nice five-week vacation where she was able to be free," Gutierrez commented. "After she came back, she had about three to 3 1/2 weeks before she started to gallop again." Lestruska has earned over $2.2 million for St. George Stables. She was a winner at 2 in Mexico and a dual group 1 winner there at 3 before a victory in the Copa Invitacional del Caribe Stakes at Gulfstream Park for her penultimate start of that season. Staying stateside, she won multiple graded stakes at 4 and 5. Last year she reeled off top-level wins in the Apple Blossom Handicap (G1), Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), Personal Ensign Stakes Presented by Lia Infiniti (G1) and Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1). Gutierrez added: "She looks in very good form in her body, and today, after her work, we decided to work towards the Royal Delta." Letruska is 3-for-3 on Gulfstream's dirt oval. Stud in Mexico Awaits Math Wizard St. George Stables was active at the Keeneland January sale and picked up a total of five horses, one of which is the grade 1 winner and millionaire Math Wizard, a 6-year-old son of Algorithms. "The idea for Math Wizard is he will go stand at stud in Mexico," Gutierrez said. The final location has yet to be determined." Math Wizard's top victory came in the 2019 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. He also was second best in the 2019 Ohio Derby (G3) and 2020 Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) and was third in the 2019 Indiana Derby (G3). From 24 starts, he has a record 3-3-4 and earnings of $1,183,840. St. George picked up the horse for $70,000 from Taylor Made Sales Agency, who consigned the horse for the partnership that campaigned the horse since John Fanelli claimed him Jan. 31, 2019, for $25,000. "While he isn't the most commercial blood for the U.S., he will do well in Mexico. In my opinion, I like the dam's line with Deputy Minister and her mother by Halo. It's interesting," said Gutierrez. Math Wizard is out of the grade 3-winning Deputy Minister mare Minister's Baby. He is a half brother to Ginny's Grey, a stakes winner in Puerto Rico, and to the dam of grade 3 winner Chief Know It All.