La Verdad exuded class in Saturday’s $200,000 Distaff H. (G2), dusting her rivals by 5 ¼ lengths to give the 5-year-old Yes It’s True mare her second win in the six furlong contest.
Away from the races since last Thanksgiving’s effort in the Fall Highweight H. (G3), La Verdad was nevertheless on her toes right from the break, rocketing to the front. Aireofdistinction soon took up the chase, but La Verdad shook clear on the turn when that one started to drift out on the turn.
By the time she straightened in the stretch, La Verdad was three lengths in front and full of run despite flying through the first half-mile in a very rapid :44.87 seconds. Alone in the lane, she finished the six furlongs in 1:10 flat on the fast track.
“I wasn’t happy when I saw (Aireofdistinction) coming after her early and they were going pretty fast,” trainer Linda Rice said. “I was a little concerned that was going to make it a real test on her fitness, but her ability is the key. She’s got a lot of talent and is able to overcome that.
“I can only hope that she comes back and races as well as she has the last year and a half for us. I had her in training for quite a long time without a vacation, and after the Fall Highweight I decided to turn her out for a couple months. She deserved it.”
Rice was referring to La Verdad’s stellar record of 11-2-0 in 17 starts, which includes six stakes wins. With her latest Distaff win, she has now earned $900,700 for her owner Lady Sheila Stable.
La Verdad is now Yes It’s True’s second-leading earner of all time and is poised to pass the $1 million earnings mark. Yes It’s True is also the sire of 2015 Kentucky Derby (G1) contender The Truth or Else.
