La Verdad Seeks a Repeat in $200,000 Distaff Handicap

La Verdad, the winner of the 2014 edition of the Distaff Handicap (G2), tops the field as the morning line favorite at odds of 1-2 for trainer Linda Rice. A five-year-old daughter of Yes It’s True, the bay mare has won ten of her sixteen starts and has been on the shelf since finishing seventh in the Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) in November. She has had several recent workouts and will have Jose Ortiz in the irons from the outside post.

Mamdooha making her second start off of the bench

Second choice at 7-2 on the morning line is Mamdooha for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Bred and owned by Shadwell Stable, the four-year-old daughter of Daaher has won five of her six starts and returned to win the Correction Stakes last time out off of a year-long layoff. She is stepping up to graded stakes competition for the first time and will have Irad Ortiz, Jr. aboard from post position two as she makes her second start of the year.

Aireofdistinction going for first graded stakes win

Also in the field at morning line odds of 4-1 is Aireofdistinction, one of two horses in the race trained by David Jacobson. A five-year-old daughter of Songandaprayer, she has won five of her sixteen starts and is trying for the first graded stakes victory of her career. She has been on the board in both starts against stakes competition this year and is scheduled to break from post position three under jockey Junior Alvarado.