Verdant Pastures takes them all the way in Empire Distaff

ELMONT, N.Y. – Charlton Baker believes that, when healthy, Verdant Pastures “is a special filly.”

On Thursday, Baker wasn’t sure if Verdant Pastures was going to be healthy enough to run in Saturday’s $250,000 Empire Distaff, one of eight stakes on the New York Showcase Day program at Belmont Park. It turned out Verdant Pastures was just fine, turning back a pace challenge from 41-1 longshot Might Be to win the Empire Distaff by two lengths. It was three-quarters of a length back to Bonita Bianca in third.

The win was the third from seven starts for Verdant Pastures, a 3-year-old daughter of Colonel John whose career has been interrupted by episodes of tying up, which is muscle stiffness and pain associated with exercise. On Thursday morning, Baker said Verdant Pastures had shown signs of tying up, but by Friday morning she was well enough to train. Still, Baker had trepidation prior to the race.

“A week ago I would have bet $2,000 on her,” Baker said. “Two days ago, it was like someone hit me in my stomach.”

Last winter, Verdant Pastures won a maiden race by 7 3/4 lengths and then finished fourth at 1-2 odds in an allowance race. She came out of that race tying up and was given ample time off to recover. Verdant Pastures returned in Saratoga where she won an allowance race by 14 3/4 lengths.

Again, Verdant Pastures was tying up after the race and needed some time. When she resumed training in September, all was well until Thursday.

In the race, Verdant Pastures was put on the lead by Manny Franco and she was stalked intently by Might Be through splits of 22.94 seconds, 46.09, and 1:10.72. Might Be, under Dylan Davis, threatened her around the turn and into upper stretch, but Verdant Pastures edged clear late.

Verdant Pastures, owned and bred by Francis Paolangeli, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.65 and returned $8.10 as the second choice.

“I know she can handle that kind of speed,” said Baker, who also won the Iroquois Stakes with 11-1 shot Absatootly. “At the top of the lane I’m looking back, there was no one coming, it was pretty much a two-horse race. I knew she was going to dig in.”

Might Be, whose lone win came in a maiden $30,000 claiming race, was second over Bonita Bianca, who was 8 3/4 lengths clear of Jc’s Shooting Star. Five Star Rampage, Jcs American Dream, Literata, Pride of Saratoga, and No Hayne No Gayne complete the order of finish.