Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Verifying
Apr 21, 2023
Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor’s Verifying sits in 13th place on the 2023 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series leaderboard with 54 qualifying points. He was last seen finishing a game second in the $1 million Blue Grass S. (G1) at Keeneland on April 8, which netted him 40 points.
Verifying debuted on Aug. 27 at Saratoga, graduating at first asking when leading at every call in a six-furlong maiden special weight. He jumped directly to the stakes ranks and checked in second in the Champagne S. (G1) at Aqueduct on Oct. 1. The son of Justify concluded his productive two-year-old campaign with an unplaced effort in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland on Nov. 4.
He kicked off this year with a dominant allowance victory at Oaklawn Park on Jan. 14. The bay was a troubled fourth in the Rebel S. (G2) at the same venue in his second try of the season, which preceded his fine showing in the Blue Grass. His career line reads 6-2-2-0, $489,900.
Verifying was purchased for a hefty sum of $775,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He was produced from 2010 Florida Oaks (G3) queen Diva Delite, and the peaking youngster counts himself as a half-brother to champion and five-time Grade 1 heroine Midnight Bisou, who finished third in the 2018 Kentucky Oaks (G1).
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