Owner Rosenblum, trainer Rice go separate ways

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Owner Sheila Rosenblum and trainer Linda Rice have ended their business relationship after a six-year run.

Rosenblum on Wednesday confirmed that she had moved horses to trainers Jonathan Thomas, Gary Contessa, and Jeremiah Englehart.

“I adore Linda, she’s a wonderful trainer,” Rosenblum said Wednesday at Belmont where she watched some of the horses she has with Contessa train. “I think it was just time to spread my wings.”

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Rosenblum said that Holiday Disguise, winner of four stakes including the Grade 3 Distaff at Aqueduct earlier this year, will go to Thomas.

Rosenblum and Rice enjoyed success with La Verdad, who won 11 stakes and earned more than $1.5 million and was voted Eclipse Award-winning female sprinter of 2015. They also campaigned her half-sister Hot City Girl, who won four stakes including Charles Town Oaks and earned more than $682,050.

The split between Rice and Rosenblum came on gradually since the summer. Rice said she had wanted to sell or move some horses to a lesser circuit but Rosenblum wasn’t amenable to that. The split was complete at the end of the Belmont fall meet.

“I worked for Sheila for six years and we had a lot of success together – La Verdad, Hot City Girl, we won an Eclipse Award together – but, you know, over the course of time people need to make changes, try different things,” Rice said. “She’s gone another direction, but we’re very friendly and everything’s good.”