La Verdad Triumphant in Gallant Bloom
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Unraced since July 29 when she won the Grade 2 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga Race Course and scratched from a subsequent start in the Grade 1 Ballerina, Lady Sheila Stable's La Verdad made a triumphant return to capture her fourth graded stakes victory of the year in the Grade 2 $300,000 Gallant Bloom on Saturday at Belmont Park.
Breaking on top as the heavily favored 3-5 favorite from post position 2 under jockey Jose Ortiz, La Verdad held off an early challenge from Room For Me to lead the field of seven through fractions of 22.76 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.04 for the half.
At the quarter-pole, Wavell Avenue who stalked the pace after stumbling at the break swung out three-wide to bring pressure to the leader but Ortiz kept his filly to task as La Verdad extended off in the stretch to earn the victory by a half-length completing the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.76.
Breaking on top as the heavily favored 3-5 favorite from post position 2 under jockey Jose Ortiz, La Verdad held off an early challenge from Room For Me to lead the field of seven through fractions of 22.76 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.04 for the half.
At the quarter-pole, Wavell Avenue who stalked the pace after stumbling at the break swung out three-wide to bring pressure to the leader but Ortiz kept his filly to task as La Verdad extended off in the stretch to earn the victory by a half-length completing the 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.76.
"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."
Returning $3.10 for a $2 win wager, the victory boosted her career earnings to $1,470,000 while keeping her perfect record intact with five wins in five starts this year and a potential start in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare sprint on target.
"I think she needed the race," said winning trainer Linda Rice. "She's been carrying a little extra weight with having had that issue at Saratoga. We missed a little training. I've had to work hard to get her here and we lost some time, but I think this race will do her a lot of good. She'll move forward and will be harder to beat next time."
Following Wavell Avenue in second were Dame Dorothy, Room For Me, Classic Point, Willet, and Street Story.
Source: NYRA Communications
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