Absatootly, Quezon drill for La Verdad Stakes

Quezon and Absatootly, who traded stakes decisions in their last two starts, both put in workouts Saturday morning at Belmont Park in preparation for a start in next Saturday’s $100,000 La Verdad Stakes at Aqueduct.

Quezon, who won the Garland of Roses on Dec. 9 after finishing third behind Absatootly in the Iroquois on Oct. 21, worked a half-mile in 49.60 seconds. Absatootly, who finished third in the Iroquois, worked a half-mile in 46.68.

“That was too fast,” trainer Charlton Baker said of the work in which the opening quarter went in 22.79.

Quezon and Absatootly have faced each other four straight times. In addition to the Garland of Roses and Iroquois, Quezon ran third and Absatootly was fourth in the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom at Belmont in September while Quezon was second and Absatootly third in the Union Avenue at Saratoga in August.

Others expected for the La Verdad when entries close Monday are Bee Noteworthy, Frosty Margarita, and Wonderment.