Chelsea Durand / NYRA Photo

Cash Offer’s late surge right on the money in La Verdad victory

by Brian Bohl

Reddam Racing’s Cash Offer ran down Kept True in mid-stretch and kicked away a one-length winner for her first career stakes win in Saturday’s third running of the $100,000 La Verdad for New York-bred fillies and mares 4-years-old and up at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The Mark Hennig trainee, making her first stakes appearance in seven starts and first since running second in the Bouwerie in May at Belmont Park, sat off 1-2 favorite’s Pauseforthecause’s early speed as she led the six-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 23.41 seconds and the half in 46.32 on the sloppy main track.

Pauseforthecause maintained that advantage out of the turn, but Kept True, who pursued the leader in second position around the backstretch, made a strong move under jockey Dylan Davis to take the lead from the outside turning for home.

Cash Offer, who enjoyed success as a front-running filly as a sophomore, started her 4-year-old campaign with a stalking trip under Jose Lezcano, and that patience paid off as the Shackleford filly continued to close the gap before overtaking Kept True from the outside in the final furlong, completing seven furlongs in a final time of 1:24.58 for her second consecutive victory.

“Coming in, I had my doubts if she wanted go that far, but the two fillies in front (Pauseforthecause and Kept True) really helped by giving her a target to run at,” Lezcano said. “I just tried to give her the best chance by sitting back and seeing how the race would unfold. At the quarter-pole, she really started to take off and she finished strong. I think she appreciated the off track as well.”

Since running fifth in her debut in her lone juvenile race in 2018, Cash Offer has never finished off the board in her next 10 starts, improving her overall record to 4-5-1 in 11 career appearances. Bred by Taylor Brothers Properties and To Kalon, Cash Offer returned $10.40 on a $2 win bet, improving her career earnings to $259,473.

“She is easy to train and you don't have to work her a whole lot,” Hennig said. “She goes out an gives an honest effort. She showed ability to rate, which helped today. Going forward, that will help a lot. We just felt like she’s a filly that didn't want to go much over three-quarters last year. Now that she has learned the ability to rate, she looked like she could go a mile.”

Trainer Leah Gyarmati dropped Kept True in against allowance company after running fifth in the Grade 2 Prioress in August at Saratoga Race Course, and she responded by running second on November 15 and besting a six-horse field on December 20 at the Big A. Taking the step up, she notched her best stakes effort, finishing 2 ¼ lengths clear of Pauseforthecause for second.

“She ran really well, especially off a short break from her last start,” Davis said. “I was just trying to stay close to Pauseforthecause and not give her an easy lead. She gave a good effort. I thought we were going to get to the wire but she ran well and I’m happy for what’s next.”

Added Manny Franco, aboard Pauseforthecause, who broke a step slow: “I was happy with the position I was in. She seems to like it when she’s in front, but it may have been the track that didn't help her today.”

Aunt Babe, Fight On Lucy and Indy’s Lady completed the order of finish. Bluegrass Jamboree was scratched.

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a nine-race card. First post is 12:30 p.m. Eastern.