Verifying Latest Winner for Justify

The regally bred Verifying (2c Justify x Diva Delite, by Repent) was a flashy debut winner for Justify on Saturday with a 1 ¾ length Maiden Special Weight victory at Saratoga.

The half-brother to champion Midnight Bisou was quick out of the gate and put his head in front early in the six-furlong dirt race. The company he had on either side of him didn’t seem to matter much to the colt and he had his ears pricked down the stretch. He had to fight off a foe who refused to give in but in the final sixteenth was the clear race winner.

Trained by Brad Cox, Verifying was purchased for $775,000 last year at the Keeneland September Sale by M.V. Magnier from co-breeder Hunter Valley Farm’s consignment and races for Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, and the Coolmore partners.

Hunter Valley bred the colt with Mountmellick Farm, with David Redvers purchasing Diva Delite for that pair carrying this colt for $1.2 million in late 2019.

In addition to Midnight Bisou, Grade III winner Diva Delite also produced the stakes-placed Stage Left. Each of Verifying’s first five dams have produced at least one stakes winner with the extended family including champion Sweet Catomine, dual Grade I winner Life Is Sweet, and Grade I winner Pirate’s Revenge.

Diva Delite foaled another colt by an Ashford stallion this year with her weanling colt sired by Uncle Mo.

Verifying’s victory came only hours after Justify scored a fourth stakes winner with Aspen Grove in Ireland. The stallion now has five stakes performers and 10 winners overall.