La Verdad Gate to Wire in Vagrancy
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Lady Sheila Stable's La Verdad put away an early challenge from Frivolity before holding off a late bid from Room for Me to take the $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap (gr. III) May 16 at Belmont Park .
Breaking alertly from the rail with Jose Ortiz, La Verdad jumped right out to the front and was quickly joined by Frivolity, running an opening quarter :22.43 and then a half-mile in :45.36, before holding off the late run from Room for Me to prevail by a half-length.
"I wasn't expecting (Frivolity) to come after me early, but (La Verdad) handled it well," Ortiz said. "When (Room for Me) came up to me in the stretch, she was coming at the same pace, but my filly was never going to let her by."
Frivolity and Room for Me raced as an uncoupled entry for trainer David Jacobson.
"The 4 horse (Room for Me) had been running some real crazy numbers the last two races, so I knew she was a formidable foe, but (La Verdad) managed to get through it again. She's pretty tough herself. Ideally, we're looking for a grade I at Saratoga somewhere down the line, but hopefully we'll just keep winning races."
The Vagrancy marked the 12th win, and seventh stakes win, from 18 career starts for La Verdad, who has now earned $990,700 in her career. Trained by Linda Rice, she earned her third graded stakes score, also taking the 2014 and 2015 editions of the Distaff Handicap (gr. II).
Turning for home Room For Me had dead aim on La Verdad, but never could get by as La Verdad crossed the wire in front, covering the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.17 over Belmont's fast main track.
"My horse is fantastic, what can I say?" said Sheila Rosenblum, who races under the Lady Sheila Stable banner. "She's proven herself over and over. We gave her a big break, a well-deserved break. She came back and it was tough. We had some fabulous horses against us, and we were very worried about the speed horse (Room for Me). She proved herself once again."
The Vagrancy was La Verdad's second start this year following her repeat win in the Distaff April 18 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Prior to that, she hadn't started since finishing seventh against males in the Fall Highweight Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 27.
La Verdad returned $3.40 to win as the 3-5 favorite in the five-horse field and $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering. Room for Me returned $2.40 to place and was followed out by Mamdooha, Sustainable, and Frivolity.
Bred in New York by Eklektikos Stable, La Verdad is by Yes It's True out of Noble Fire, by Hook and Ladder.