La Verdad Repeats Score in Distaff 'Cap
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Lady Sheila Stable's La Verdad returned to the races and to her winning ways April 18, galloping by 5 1/4 lengths over three rivals in the $190,000 Distaff Handicap (gr. II) at Aqueduct Racetrack .
The 5-year-old New York-bred daughter of Yes It's True started for the first time since running seventh and last of all against males in the Nov. 27 Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III), and repeated a gate-to-wire victory in the six-furlong race she won in similar fashion in 2014.
La Verdad was tracked early by Aireofdistinction, who got within a head as the first quarter went in :22.25. But jockey Jose Ortiz kept the bay mare under a stout hold for a :44.87 half, after which she began to shake free. The 118-pound highweight arrived at the quarter pole with a comfortable advantage through five-eighths in :56.87 and extended the margin well into upper stretch. The final time was 1:10 flat on a fast track.
"I wasn't happy when I saw (Aireofdistinction) coming after her early and they were going pretty fast," trainer Linda Rice said. "I was a little concerned that was going to make it a real test on her fitness, but her ability is the key. She's got a lot of talent and is able to overcome that.
"I can only hope that she comes back and races as well as she has the last year and a half for us. I had her in training for quite a long time without a vacation, and after the Fall Highweight I decided to turn her out for a couple months. She deserved it."
Favored at odds of 1-5, La Verdad paid $2.60 and $2.10, while runner-up Frivolity brought $4.20. There was no show wagering. Mamdooha and Aireofdistinction completed the order of finish.
"She had a clean break," said Ortiz, who rode the mare from the outside post. "I went to the rail and the three horse (Aireofdistinction) came out to challenge her, but really wasn't a factor at the turn. I cruised by her at the three-eighths pole (and) at the quarter pole I looked back for the two horse (Mamdooha). I let her pick up at the three-sixteenths pole, and I only hit her couple of times and she went easy. I just let her do her thing. I have to give credit to Linda (Rice) and her staff, because they work very hard every morning to get her ready and they really deserve this."
It was the second graded stakes victory for La Verdad, both earned in the Distaff 'Cap, and her sixth stakes win overall. Bred by Eklektikos Stable out of the Hook and Ladder mare Noble Fire, she has a record of 11 wins and two seconds from 17 starts and earnings of $900,700.