La Verdad runs away in Distaff

Trainer Linda Rice was in Ocala, Fla., on Saturday, “looking for some fast horses to buy,” she said, at the upcoming 2-year-olds in-training auction.

If she can find one as fast as La Verdad she’ll be in good shape.

Saturday at Aqueduct, La Verdad flashed her speed leaving the gate under Jose Ortiz and carried it all the way to the wire to win the Grade 2, $200,000 Distaff Handicap by 3 1/2 lengths. Kauai Katie, a four-time graded stakes winner making her first start since last July, finished second, 1 1/2 lengths ahead of My Pal Chrisy. She was followed in the order of finish by Munnings Sister, Lion D N A, Miss d’Oro and Bridgehampton.

The win was the seventh from nine starts for La Verdad, a 4-year-old New York-bred daughter of Yes It’s True. It was her first graded stakes victory and the first graded win for owner Sheila Rosenblum, who races under the moniker Lady Sheila Stable.

“She was right on target for this race,” said Rice, who noted that when La Verdad finished second in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie at Laurel in February “we struggled with her training because the track was closed so many days. This was really thrilling. This was Sheila’s first graded stakes win, so I’m excited for her as well.”

On paper, there appeared to be plenty of early speed in the Distaff. But La Verdad, breaking from the rail, was quickest away and she opened up a clear advantage through a quarter in 22.26 seconds. Bridgehampton, who was widest of all down the backside, went to engage La Verdad and the half-mile was run in a sparkling 44.93 seconds.

La Verdad put Bridgehampton away and was never really threatened in the stretch as Kauai Katie emerged to easily be second over the late-running My Pal Chrisy.

La Verdad covered the six furlongs in 1:09.10 and returned $6.

“When we drew the one-hole we were really forced to get to the lead,” Rice said. “If she had drawn outside of Munnings Sister I maybe would have told him to sit off of her.”

Rice was unsure where La Verdad would run next but her ultimate goal for the summer is the Grade 1 Ballerina, to be run in August at Saratoga.