La Verdad cruises in Interborough, 'Rumor' upsets Turf Dash

The connections of La Verdad have one more week to find out whether their mare was voted champion female sprinter of 2015, but have reason to rejoice already this new year after the six-year-old daughter of Yes It's True coasted to a 2 3/4-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Interborough at Aqueduct.

Battling early with 51-1 longshot Fat Kat, La Verdad put that rival away around the far turn and opened up a commanding lead in the stretch. Dancing House proved second best, with second choice Room for Me third. La Verdad completed six furlongs on a fast track in 1:10.65.

Owned by Lady Sheila Stable, trained by Linda Rice, and ridden by Jose Ortiz, La Verdad paid $2.80 as the 2-5 favorite in a field of six.

The New York-bred La Verdad has bankrolled more than $1.56 million and enjoyed one of her best seasons in 2015. In addition to a pair of state-bred stakes wins, she also captured the Distaff H. (G2), Vagrancy H. (G3), and Gallant Bloom H. (G2).

Retroactively disqualified from a win in the July 29 Honorable Miss H. (G2) due to a clenbuterol positive, La Verdad concluded last season with a second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) and a sixth versus males in the Fall Highweight H. (G3).

La Verdad is expected to make her career swan song in the February 13 Barbara Fritchie (G2) at Laurel over seven furlongs before she is bred to Medaglia d'Oro.

At Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday, last year's Twin Spires Turf Sprint (G3) winner Power Alert was upset as the 3-2 favorite in the $90,000 Turf Dash.

In his first outing since July, Power Alert proved no match for Fast Flying Rumor, who scorched the firm turf through fractions of :21.03 and :43.72, and finished up five furlongs in :55.06.

Trained by Gerald Bennett and ridden by Ronnie Allen Jr., Flying Fast Rumor paid $24.80. Power Alert was second, a length clear of Night Officer.

This was the second career stakes win for Fast Flying Rumor, who captured the $56,000 Select in his turf debut at Monmouth Park last June. Owned by Winning Stables and Midnight Rider LLC, the four-year-old gelding by West Acre was coming off a swift optional claiming score over the Turf Dash course and distance on December 11.

(La Verdad photo: NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)