La Verdad targets matchup against the boys

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – La Verdad, second in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, has returned to training at Belmont Park and could face males in the Grade 2, $250,000 Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct on Nov. 26, trainer Linda Rice said.

La Verdad had been cataloged to be sold at Sunday’s Fasig-Tipton auction, but owner Sheila Rosenblum pulled the New York-bred mare from the sale – as she hinted she would all along. While the plan is still to breed La Verdad in 2016, Rice said La Verdad could run into February, perhaps going in the Barbara Fritchie at Laurel on Presidents Day weekend.

“She came back good, went back to the track today,” Rice said Wednesday. “She’s in good shape.”

Last year, La Verdad finished last in the Fall Highweight. This year, she finished first in all six of her starts before getting beat a half-length by Wavell Avenue in the Filly and Mare Sprint.

Rice said the timing of the Fall Highweight is good, “and in the filly division, the purses aren’t great.”

Rice said the Fall Highweight would be La Verdad’s last start of the year.

Palace, who won the Fall Highweight in 2013, is being pointed to the De Francis Dash at Laurel on Nov. 14, Rice said. But if he needs more time, Palace also could run in the Fall Highweight, she said.