Aqueduct: La Verdad tries to stretch out in Touch of Love

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – A dominant force in her last three races at six furlongs, La Verdad will attempt to stretch her speed out an additional three-sixteenths of a mile when she makes her stakes debut in Friday’s $100,000 Touch of Love Stakes at Aqueduct.

La Verdad, a 3-year-old filly with only four career starts, is scheduled to take on seasoned older stakes performers Willet and Miss Valentine in the 7 1/2-furlong race restricted to New York-breds that drew a field of 11.

After losing her debut in March, La Verdad reeled off three consecutive front-running victories – by a combined 21 1/4 lengths – albeit over a seven-month period. Coming out of her May 8 victory in the mud at Belmont, La Verdad developed an infection that needed time to heal, according to trainer Linda Rice.

“It was a muddy track that day and she’s got a great big old foot on her. She whacked herself and got a cellulitis infection that we had to lance,” Rice said. “It took quite a bit of time to get straightened out, all summer frankly.”

Rice had the option of running La Verdad at this 7 1/2-furlong distance against New York-breds or against open company going six furlongs in Saturday’s $100,000 Garland of Roses. That she opted for this spot is an indication she is confident La Verdad will stretch out.

“Granted the competition is much tougher than she’s faced and the distance is further than she’s run, but I wouldn’t have her in there if I didn’t think there was a good chance she’d get the distance,” Rice said.

There is a chance for rain on Friday and La Verdad, a daughter of Yes It’s True, is 2 for 2 over an off track. La Verdad breaks from post 6 under Jose Ortiz.

Willet finished fourth in last Friday’s Grade 2 Go for Wand but trainer and part-owner Jimmy Iselin opted on Sunday to enter her back for this race to give him the option of running. On Wednesday, Iselin said he has seen “nothing that would preclude her from running.”

Iselin said he would cut back on the amount of Lasix Willet would receive. Iselin noted that she worked on Lasix three days before the Go for Wand and then ran on that medication.

“I think she was dulled by Lasix,” Iselin said. “We are going to cut back on the dosage of Lasix – way back.”

Willet, who won the Princess Dixie Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs at Belmont in September, is also 2 for 2 over a wet track.

Miss Valentine is 4 for 5 over Aqueduct’s main track, including a pair of New York-bred stakes victories last fall. She was beaten a half-length by Willet in the Princess Dixie before most recently finishing third behind Cluster of Stars in the Iroquois – finishing 9 3/4 lengths behind second-place finisher Willet.

“She obviously likes Aqueduct. This is probably her last race,” said Christophe Lorieul, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement. “The filly is doing well. If she runs her race, she should be very competitive.”

The Rudy Rodriguez-trained entry of Kelli Got Frosty and What the Frost, as well as Mischief Maker are other contenders in the field.