La Verdad headed to BC Filly and Mare Sprint

ELMONT, N.Y. – La Verdad, who won Saturday’s $150,000 Iroquois Stakes at Belmont Park, is expected to ship Monday to Kentucky and run Saturday in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland, trainer Linda Rice said.

“After rating yesterday, I think we should go,” Rice said Sunday morning in her Belmont Park office. “The fact she’s headed to the breeding shed after this, what are we saving her for? What have we got to lose?”

Last Monday, owner Sheila Rosenblum put up a $100,000 supplemental fee to pre-enter La Verdad in both the Filly and Mare Sprint and the $1.5 million Sprint against males. La Verdad, who has won 16 of 22 starts, including all six of her races this year, has been more effective at six or 6 1/2 furlongs than seven.

But in winning the Iroquois against New York-breds, La Verdad sat fourth behind a quarter of 21.88 seconds and a half-mile in 44.94 before drawing away to win by 3 3/4 lengths. She ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.96 and earned only an 89 Beyer Speed Figure.

“After watching yesterday’s race and watching her sit nicely behind a 21-and-4 quarter, she rated beautifully and was real professional, and I think that makes myself and Sheila more comfortable to try and run her at seven furlongs.”

Rice also believes La Verdad, who has four graded stakes wins on her resume this year, figures to be one of the top three choices for the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Final entries are taken Monday and post positions assigned. Rice has La Verdad booked on an early afternoon flight from New York to Kentucky.

“I’d like to say I’m going to sleep on it and take a nap this afternoon and decide later, but I’ve got six in,” said Rice, referring to Sunday’s Belmont card.

Meanwhile, Rice said Palace, winner of the $150,000 Hudson Handicap, would most likely not be entered in the Sprint, for which he was pre-entered. Rice said Palace will be pointed to the De Francis Dash at Laurel on Nov. 14 or the Fall Highweight Handicap at Belmont Park on Nov. 26.