Unraced since July 29 when she won the Honorable Miss H. (G2) La Verdad took her fourth graded stakes victory of the year in the $300,000 Gallant Bloom H. (G2) Saturday at Belmont Park.
The 5-year-old daughter of Yes It’s True has been nearly impossible to beat her entire career, winning 15 of her 21 starts, ten of them coming in stakes.
With the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) next month at Keeneland in mind, trainer Linda Rice said the Honorable Miss is just what La Verdad needed.
“I think she needed the race,” said Rice. “She’s been carrying a little extra weight, but I think this race will do her a lot of good. She’ll move forward and will be harder to beat next time.”
As is customary, La Verdad went right to the front on Saturday, and after some early pressure, got into a good rhythm, opening up by two lengths in mid-stretch and holding off Wavell Avenue by a half length.
The final time for the 6 ½-furlongs was a very lively 1:15.16, just a second off the track record.
“She broke well and took the lead easy,” said Ortiz. “I had a little pressure from the outside, but after that she settled down and she was fine.”
La Verdad is owned by Lady Sheila Stable and has now earned $1,350,700 after the $180,000 payday. She is Yes It’s True’s leading earner for 2015 and one of five stakes winners for her sire, whose progeny earnings are nearing $4.7 million this year.
