NYRA/Adam Coglianese
by Sarah Mace
Still reaping the benefits of a planned winter vacation that lasted from late November until mid-April, millionaire La Verdad drove up her 2015 record to a perfect four-for-four when she delivered a sizzling frontrunning performance in the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss for fillies and mares on a hot Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga Racetrack.
La Verdad, who is owned by Sheila Rosenblum’s Lady Sheila Stable and trained by conditioner Linda Rice, kicked off her 5-year-old campaign with a dominating five-plus length victory in the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct on April 18. The six-furlong specialist (11-for-14) then stretched out her speed an extra half-panel in the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap, which she won by a half-length on May 16. Returning to state-bred company and six furlongs on June 28, she annihilated a field of state-breds in the Dancin Renee on June 28, winning by more than seven lengths.
Second choice in the Honorable Miss at 6-5 odds behind odds-on reigning champion female sprinter Judy the Beauty, La Verdad shot out of the starting gate at the break and claimed the top spot from the get-go. Judy the Beauty, who had little choice in the matter once La Verdad threw down the gauntlet, followed a half-length behind in pursuit.
After running a quarter-mile in 22.47 closely attended by the champion, La Verdad widened her advantage two lengths and completed a half in 45.03, while Judy the Beauty ceded second to Street Story.
NYRA/Adam Coglianese
Asked for run at the head of lane, La Verdad kicked into gear and built an insurmountable advantage on the way to the finish line, which she crossed a four-length winner in a final time of 1:09.14. Street Story finished second, three-quarters of a length ahead of Judy the Beauty. Enchantress and Ultimate Shopper completed the order of finish. [VIDEO]
Victorious jockey Jose Ortiz said, “La Verdad broke great today and she did her job. I was cruising at the quarter pole and I let her run. You always expect a great horse like Judy the Beauty to put in a challenge.” Ortiz added, “[La Verdad]’s my favorite horse. She’s very special and she has given me a lot of good memories.”
As to the way Judy the Beauty attended the fast pace, Ortiz commented, “I can understand that because if [jockey Joel Rosario] wants to win he can’t let me go that easy in front. He put pressure on me early and still got beat. If I would have gone easier early, maybe I would have won easier.”
Linda Rice said, “Judy the Beauty is a very great horse and intimidating filly. Obviously today went very well. I was nervous running against that type of filly. I knew she was going to be a real tough competitor.”
Owner Sheila Rosenblum waxed enthusiastic, as always: “Oh, my gosh, what a race!” said Rosenblum. “What competition! What a trainer! What a jockey! What a groom! She’s incredible. La Verdad is some joy.”
Last year at Saratoga La Verdad could do no better than fifth on a pair of starts in the Honorable Miss and Ballerina. This year La Verdad will head into the Grade 1 Ballerina having beaten the reigning female sprint champion. Said Rice, “La Verdad is at her best right now and this is great because we are going into the Ballerina. We’re going after that elusive Grade 1 victory.”
A winner of nine stakes races and owner of a 14-2-0 record in 20 starts, La Verdad has now earned a whopping $1,170,700. In addition to New York-bred stakes victories in the Critical Eye, Iroquois, Broadway and Dancin Rene (twice) she has won the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap twice, the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap and the Honorable Miss. According to her connections, she will retire next year to the breeding shed.
Bred by Eklektikos Stable LLC and foaled at Chester and Mary Broman’s Chestertown farm in Chestertown. La Verdad was purchased privately by (Lady) Sheila Rosenblum following her second allowance victory in November 2013.
She is one of three winners out of Noble Fire (Hook and Ladder), a stakes-placed runner bred by Chester and Mary Broman also trained by Rice. Rice bought Noble Fire for Eklektikos for $115,000 at the 2007 OBS Spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. Noble Fire’s two other winners, are N. F’s Destiny (Cuvee), an eight-time winner of over $335,000 and Lady Sheila Stable’s stakes-placed six-figure earner Hot City Girl (City Zip).
Noble Fire currently has a yearling filly by Freud and was not bred last year. This spring she went to Will Take Charge.
