La Verdad might not be done yet

La Verdad, who finished last in the Fall Highweight, is still at Belmont Park and is in training, trainer Linda Rice said Wednesday. While La Verdad is to be bred in 2016, her connections have not ruled out another start, potentially in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Stakes at Laurel Park on Feb. 13.

“She could run in the Barbara Fritchie and then go to the breeding shed,” said Rice, who trains La Verdad for Sheila Rosenblum. “I don’t know what we’re doing yet.”

La Verdad finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint one week after winning the Iroquois Stakes for New York-breds. In her most recent start, La Verdad finished sixth in the Fall Highweight.

Rice recently returned from a two-week suspension, and she said Wednesday she has not yet had a chance to discuss La Verdad’s immediate future with Rosenblum.

Rice said that Matt King Coal, whom she also trains for Rosenblum, remains on schedule for the $200,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct on Jan. 2.

Matt King Coal, a son of Cool Coal Man, won a one-mile maiden race on Oct. 29 by 5 3/4 lengths. Rice opted to bypass the Grade 2 Remsen on Nov. 28 and point for the Jerome. Matt King Coal has only worked twice recently, the last time going six furlongs in 1:15.55 on Nov. 27. Rice said she doesn’t breeze Matt King Coal very often.

“As far as his body weight goes, he’s not the type of horse you want to lay on the fence every seven days. He’s the kind of horse you [breeze] every two weeks,” Rice said. “He’s certainly performed well under that schedule, so I’m not going to change it right now.”

Rice did say that Matt King Coal will miss a scheduled breeze this week due to a respiratory infection, but she doesn’t think that will impact the colt’s chances of making the race.