La Verdad becomes millionaire in Dancin Renee romp

La Verdad lived up to her 1-10 odds in the $100,000 Dancin Renee Stakes at Belmont Park on Sunday by winning the New York-bred stakes for the second year in a row while surpassing $1 million in earnings.

La Verdad went right to the lead over six overmatched rivals in the six-furlong Dancin Renee. She clicked off fractions of 22.91 seconds, 45.85, and 57.64, and coasted home 7 1/4 lengths in front without jockey Jose Ortiz moving his hands in the stretch. She completed six furlongs in 1:10.27.

Make the Moment, owned and trained by Charlton Baker, rallied from well back while inside horses in the stretch to be second by a neck over Miss Da Point, who lodged her bid outside horses. Here’s Zealicious was fourth, a half-length behind Miss Da Point. She finished between the second- and third-place runners.

La Verdad is undefeated in three starts this year. Prior to the Dancin Renee, she won the Grade 3 Vagrancy Handicap on May 16 and the Grade 2 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct on April 18. She has now won 13 of her 19 career starts for trainer Linda Rice and the $60,000 winner’s share of the Dancin Renee boosted her earnings to $1,050,700.

La Verdad paid $2.20 to win and sparked a minus place pool as $259,000 of the $294,000 wagered was on her. The New York Racing Association canceled show wagering on the race despite there being seven starters.

La Verdad will now be pointed to the Grade 2, $200,000 Honorable Miss on July 29 at Saratoga. A year ago, La Verdad didn’t fare well at Saratoga, finishing fifth in both the Honorable Miss and the Grade 1 Ballerina.

Although she went into last year’s Saratoga meet on a four-race win streak, La Verdad had already raced six times in 2014 starts and made eight starts since returning from a summer layoff.

Rice had considered sending La Verdad to next week’s Grade 2 Princess Rooney at Gulfstream Park but didn’t want to knock out the 5-year-old daughter of Yes It’s True in the Florida heat and ultimately opted for this less demanding spot.

“I was happy she won as easily as she did because, frankly, this is a race we were just trying to use to get her to Saratoga in better condition than we were last year, going toward the Honorable Miss and hopefully the Ballerina. We didn't want it to be a hard race on her.”

The Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina will be run Aug. 29 at Saratoga.