By: Natalie Voss – http://www.paulickreport.com/features/breeders-cup-presents-connections/keeneland-select-presents-connections-a-new-york-love-story/

For Sheila Rosenblum, a summons for jury duty came at the worst possible time. Rosenblum had to explain to a New York court that the end of October was really not going to work for her. She was a little busy, she explained. She had a horse headed to the Breeders’ Cup in Central Kentucky.

She must have done a thorough job communicating what crowning achievement the race will be for her, because the court agreed to let her reschedule her appearance.

“I told them I wouldn’t be there,” she laughed.

Rosenblum is the first to say that her career in Thoroughbred ownership has been a rocky one. She got into the business five years ago after rekindling a lifelong love for horses and wound up in a messy legal battle over a yearling purchase.

“It was the school of hard knocks, which is why I’m an advocate of getting into a syndicate,” she said. “There’s a fabulous amount of reward and a heck of a lot less risk than the old-fashioned way I’ve done it.

“Every mistake that could happen to a novice happened to me. My kids think I’m a superstar because I did not get out of this. Boy, do I love horses. Or punishment.

Whatever Rosenblum’s reason for hanging on, it’s paying off. She says Rice convinced her to purchase La Verdad despite the horse not passing muster with two veterinarians. The deal included La Verdad’s half sister, and two and a half years later, La Verdad remains healthy and is headed to the Breeders’ Cup after an undefeated season. And that half sister? Turned out to be Hot City Girl, winner of the Grade 3 Charles Town Oaks last month.

Rosenblum’s holdings have grown to include shares in about 20 horses (independently, with Lady Sheila, and in a syndicate called Triumphant Trio), and she stays actively involved with them, visiting Rice’s barn at Belmont whenever she can to distribute carrots and soak up the atmosphere. Although she had originally thought Lady Sheila Two would be a collection of girlfriends, the stable came to include seven partners who Rosenblum describes as movers and shakers in the business and philanthropy worlds, some of whom are familiar with the racing world and some of whom are new to the sport.

Racing has become a family affair for her, as she brings children Kara and Erik to the track whenever possible and has runners named after them both. As Kara began college this year, Rosenblum said she’s begun to think of La Verdad as a third child.

“It’s Kara, Erik, La Verdad, and all the rest of [the horses],” she said. “It’s like a New York love story. What she’s done for me … I was interviewed for New York Breeder magazine and about a  month later I got the magazine and thought ‘Those look like my silks. Oh my god, those are my silks!’”

The decision to run in the Filly & Mare Sprint was a last-minute one, and it came with risks. La Verdad won the Iroquois on Oct. 24, just one week out from the Breeders’ Cup, which would be her first opportunity against Grade 1 company in over a year. Rosenblum was also unsure about the seven furlong distance, frustrated that there is no six furlong turf or dirt option in the series restricted to female runners. Then there was the matter of paying to nominate her, which was no small consideration. But in the end, Rosenblum relied on Rice’s advice—just as she had when it came time to purchase the mare, who has now earned over $1.4 million in 16 victories and is undefeated this year.

“I was an athlete my whole life,” she said. “In my mind, there are a handful of Zenyattas and Beholders out there. La Verdad is incredibly fast. Do I think she’s got the speed of some of them? No. But she came out of the race so beautifully, and she deserves this shot.”

La Verdad will break from the fourth post position on Saturday under Jose Ortiz.