1st-Saratoga, $105,000, Msw, 8-27, 2yo, 6f, 1:10.26, ft, 1 3/4 lengths.
VERIFYING (c, 2, Justify–Diva Delite {GSW, $300,067}, by Repent), a half to none other than Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute), Ch. Older Dirt Female, MGISW, $3,971,500, ran to advanced billing to take a typically tough-looking Travers Day maiden as the 3-5 favorite. Debuting with blinkers on, the bay broke well and took a short lead to post splits of :22.90 and :46.04. He turned for home a bit wide, allowing Track Mate (Union Rags–Teammate) to challenge to his inside at the top of the lane. The pair seemed to make contact as Verifying shifted in when switching leads, but the chalk quickly righted the ship and leveled off well to pull clear late by 1 3/4 lengths while providing his hot-starting, Triple Crown-winning sire (by Scat Daddy) with an 11th winner. Track Mate, sixth in his turf route unveiling for D. Wayne Lukas, held second over Parx invader and fellow second timer Didinger (Bolt d'Oro). King's Glory (Speightstown), the $575,000 half-brother to GSW Dr. Dorr (Lookin At Lucky), was fourth. The winner is also half to precocious Stage Left (Congrats), SP, $345,808 and a foal colt by Uncle Mo. Diva Delite, who fetched $1.2 million from David Redvers while carrying Verifying at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November sale, was bred to Gun Runner for 2023. Sales Sales history: $775,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $57,750. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-Jonathan Poulin, Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith & Michael B. Tabor; B-Hunter Valley & Mountmellick Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
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