La Verdad works five furlongs, may target Barbara Fritchie

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Though La Verdad still is scheduled to be bred to Medaglia d’Oro in 2016, she is likely to race once or twice more before then.

On a busy Saturday morning at Belmont Park, La Verdad worked five furlongs in 1:00.86 over the training track, her first workout since she finished sixth against the boys in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct on Nov. 26. Trainer Linda Rice said one race that could be on La Verdad’s agenda is the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park on Feb. 13.

La Verdad already has had a distinguished career with 15 wins, including 10 stakes, from 24 starts and earnings just over $1.5 million. But owner Sheila Rosenblum is having a difficult time letting go of the New York-bred daughter of Yes It’s True.

Rosenblum pulled La Verdad out of the Fasig-Tipton November sale, which was held the day after La Verdad ran second to Wavell Avenue in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland.

“She can’t part with her,” Rice said Saturday morning. “The plan is still to breed her this year, but she doesn’t need to be in Kentucky just yet, so we’re looking to run her once or twice more before sending her.”

In Saturday’s work, which began at the half-mile pole, La Verdad was on the bridle, going an opening quarter in 23.62 seconds and hitting the wire in 47.55. She galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.84.

“She can be a little strong,” Rice said. “That’s a good work over this track.”

Rice and Rosenblum also have Hot City Girl – La Verdad’s younger half-sister – for the Barbara Fritchie. But Rice said Saturday she is leaning toward giving Hot City Girl a brief vacation as she is scheduled to run throughout 2016 with races such as the Ballerina at Saratoga and BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita long-range targets. Hot City Girl just returned from California, where she finished second in the Grade 1 La Brea on Dec. 26.

Other notables on Saturday’s worktab were Princess Violet, the Grade 1 Madison winner, who went five furlongs in 1:02.20 for next Saturday’s Interborough; Saythreehailmary’s, winner of the Bay Ridge Stakes, who went a half-mile in 48.90 for a potential start next Sunday in the Ladies Handicap; and Wonder Gal, the Empire Distaff winner, who went a half-mile in 49 flat for the Ladies.