La Verdad faces three in Distaff defense
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Despite its lofty purse and Grade 2 status, Saturday’s $200,000 Distaff Handicap at Aqueduct managed to draw just four horses.
That was good news for trainer Linda Rice, who brings defending Distaff winner La Verdad back from a 111-day layoff in the six-furlong race for fillies and mares. With its short field, the Distaff will go as the second (1:51 p.m. Eastern) on the nine-race card.
La Verdad’s competition is Mamdooha, who has won five consecutive races, and the uncoupled David Jacobson entry of Aireofdistinction and Frivolity. Frivolity was cross-entered in Saturday’s $150,000 Sugar Maple Stakes at Charles Town but will run here.
At this time last year, La Verdad was in career form, having finished first or second in all 11 career starts. Her front-running win in the Distaff was her second victory in what would become a four-race winning streak from March 29 through July 3.
La Verdad has had only four works leading up to her return.
“She could end up short, but frankly, she’s ready enough to give it a try,” Rice said. “We as horse trainers always want one more, but she went a good three-quarters the other day.”
Mamdooha, meanwhile, came off a yearlong layoff March 14 to win the Correction Stakes by a head over Expression. That was her fifth consecutive victory, a streak that began with a maiden win over the main track in November 2013.
Saturday’s card also features the inaugural running of the $100,000 Woodhaven Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on turf. An evenly matched field of five is led by Chief Kitten, Eh Cumpari, and Vision Perfect.
DISTAFF
KEY CONTENDERS
La Verdad (Last 3 Beyers: 65-93-94)
◗ She looms the lone speed in a short field.
“I’ve been the favorite in a three-horse field and been beaten before,” Rice said. “It’s her first start off a layoff and looks like a good place to get her started.”
Mamdooha (Last 3 Beyers: 80-73-78)
◗ She has not lost since finishing second in her debut.
◗ She needed a bone chip removed following her Cicada victory in March 2014 but came back to win the Correction.
“We feel like she’ll move forward from the race, although sometimes our numbers are better first time back,” McLaughlin said. “Sometimes short fields are not a plus when you got a horse that comes from off the pace. We’d like a couple of them to entertain each other up front if possible.”
◗ Irad Ortiz rides from post 2.
WOODHAVEN
KEY CONTENDERS
Vision Perfect (Last 3 Beyers: 81-80-70)
◗ He ran well in all four of his races at 2, winning two of them, including the Awad Stakes last Oct. 26 at Belmont. He was beaten a length by Imperia in the Grade 3 Pilgrim last September at Belmont.
◗ Vision Perfect has not raced since the Awad. Trainer David Donk freshens his turf horses during the winter, and they usually come out firing. Over the last five years, he has a record of 3-5-2 from 15 turf starters at the Aqueduct spring meet coming off layoffs of 60 to 180 days.
“He’s pretty fit,” Donk said. “The [workout] times are deceiving. The track was slow and so dead for so long.”
◗ Vision Perfect could play out as the primary speed under Manny Franco.
Eh Cumpari (Last 3 Beyers: 78-74-61)
◗ Though listed as the third choice on the morning line, one could make a case that this horse should be favored off his two turf races, in which he had extremely wide trips. He overcame a six-wide trip to win the Grade 3 Palm Beach at Gulfstream, and fifth-place finisher Night Prowler came back to win the Grade 3 Transylvania on Wednesday at Keeneland.
Chief Kitten (Last 3 Beyers: 74-75-65)
◗ He won the Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park West before finishing sixth, just a neck behind Eh Cumpari, in the Kitten’s Joy on Jan. 24. Makes his first start since then in this spot.