Racing days over for female sprint champ La Verdad

La Verdad, who earlier this month was voted 2015 champion female sprinter by a narrow margin, has reportedly been retired.

The six-year-old daughter of Yes It's True, who was scheduled to be bred to Medaglia d'Oro this spring, had been expected to race once more in the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie (G3) at Laurel on February 13. However, owner Sheila Rosenblum has confirmed to several media outlets that the mare's victory in the $100,000 Interborough at Aqueduct January 9 was her last start.

Trained by Linda Rice, La Verdad retires with a mark of 25-16-3-0, $1,563,200.

La Verdad prevailed in the championship race by a margin of 98-90 over Wavell Avenue, who had defeated her in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland. However, La Verdad had defeated that foe previously in the Gallant Bloom H. (G2), and scored other wins last season in the Distaff H. (G2), Vagrancy H. (G3) and two New York-bred stakes.

In other racing news:

*Big Blue Kitten, the 2015 champion turf male, recorded his first workout of the year Monday at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, completing four furlongs over a fast track in :51.50.

Trained by Chad Brown, last year's Joe Hirsh Turf Classic (G1), United Nations (G1), and Fort Marcy (G3) winner was last seen finishing third behind European stars Found and Golden Horn in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Keeneland October 31.

*Parx Racing, via Twitter, confirmed a report that the opening of its 2016 race meet would be postponed by a week, to February 20, because of delays resulting from the installation of a new safety rail.

Track officials told Daily Racing Form that various issues, including weather, have delayed the re-opening of the track for training prior to the meet's opening. Cards lost due to the delay will be re-scheduled for April.

(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)