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The anticipation was high for #Verifying, an impressive colt with a prestigious lineage. As the $775,000 son of a Triple Crown winner and the half brother to a champion, Verifying had lofty expectations to live up to. Finally, in the $300,000 Indiana Derby (G3), he managed to fulfill those expectations, outlasting a late surge from Raise Cain to secure victory. It was a moment of relief for all those involved with the regally-bred colt. Trained by the renowned #BradCox, Verifying had shown promise with two grade-1 placements in his nine-start career. On July 8, at Horseshoe Indianapolis, he justified his hefty price tag by claiming his first graded victory. Despite being sent off as the 3-5 favorite, the 1 1/6-mile contest proved to be no easy task for Verifying. He had to fend off persistent rivals Cagliostro and pacesetter Transect down the stretch, only to face a determined late charge from Raise Cain near the finish line. Nevertheless, Verifying persevered and prevailed by the narrowest of margins. Reflecting on the race, Cox admitted, “It was a little stressful. He ran well. Marcelino (Pedroza Jr.) put him in a great position. He responded. He felt some late pressure from the 2 horse but finished strongly and managed to stay ahead at the wire.“ The triumph held special significance for jockey Marcelino Pedroza, who currently leads the rider standings at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Tracking the early pace of : and :, Pedroza urged Verifying forward at the six-furlong marker and rode him to victory. “This win means a lot,“ Pedroza expressed. “I've been here for five, six years, riding long enough. To win this race, the most important one at this track, holds great significance for me.“ Raise Cain, the winner of the Gotham Stakes (G3), bounced back from three disappointing off-the-board performances to secure a strong second-place finish. Cagliostro, who made a bid along the inside, settled for third. Trainer Ben Colebrook commented on Raise Cain's performance, saying, “Almost. Almost counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. He ran a tremendous race. You can't be disappointed with that, but winning is what we aim for. He deserves a race like this, and there will be more opportunities for him.“ Verifying, racing under the Coolmore partnership of Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor, is sired by Coolmore stallion Justify and out of the mare Diva Delite. His half sister is the exceptional five-time grade 1 winner Midnight Bisou, who received the champion older female Eclipse Award in 2019. With over $7 million in earnings, Midnight Bisou was sold to Katsumi Yoshida of Japan at last year's Keeneland November Sale for an impressive $5.5 million. “(Verifying has a) remarkable pedigree,“ Cox affirmed. “We need to secure a grade 1 win with him. I believe he has the potential to be a grade 1 horse. The Kentucky Derby performance is one we can overlook. His run in the Blue Grass Stakes was truly impressive. Once again, I have confidence that there's a grade 1 victory in his future. I'm not certain when or where it will happen, or even at what distance, but it was satisfying to see him return to the winner's circle. He displayed a lot of class and determination in the late stages of the race, and hopefully, we can build upon this success.“ #Indianaderby2023 #horseracing #bradcox #horseracinghandicapping @asidero2000
