Verifying holds off Raise Cain by a nose in Indiana Derby
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Verifying got the graded stakes win his connections so badly wanted, but just barely, holding off Raise Cain by a nose to win the Grade 3, $300,000 Indiana Derby on Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.
Verifying got a beautiful trip under Marcelino Pedroza pressing a slow pace set by Transect, but still was all-out to make good on his 3-5 favoritism. Raise Cain had a more challenging journey, saving ground behind the leaders for much of the trip before being forced to swing four or five paths wide at the five-sixteenths pole to make his run. Raise Cain finished fastest but still was second best.
“It was a little stressful, but he got the job done,” said trainer Brad Cox.
Cagliostro, who stalked the pace racing inside from third, went for an upper-stretch hole between Verifying and Transect that closed when Transect drifted out. Snatched up, he then got into a tight spot late between Verifying and Raise Cain, finishing a fairly encouraging third, 1 3/4 lengths out of second and two lengths in front of Transect. Transect set splits of 24.19, 48.47, and 1:12.83 before fading mildly to fourth. After that there were margins of several lengths back to Georgie W in fifth, who was followed by Onthestage, and Hayes Strike. Act a Fool and Stay in Your lane were scratched. The winner was timed in 1:43.15 for 1 1/16 miles over a drying-out track rated “good,” and paid $3.20.
Owned by international powerhouse Coolmore’s division in America, Verifying fetched $775,000 at auction. He’s by a Triple Crown winner, Justify, and out of Diva Delight, who produced the champion mare Midnight Bisou. Verifying had finished second in the Grade 1 Champagne and second in the Grade 1 Blue Grass and had only a maiden and an allowance win coming into Saturday’s contest. Breaking through on the graded-stakes front goes some way toward enhancing the stallion prospects of this colt.
Cox said after the race he believes Verifying could win a Grade 1, but maybe not in a route race.
“We may cut him back in distance. I’m not sure he’s thriving at a mile and a sixteenth. A mile and an eighth, he kind of flattens out. Overall, he’s a very talented horse,” said Cox.
One might have expected Verifying to draw clear after a wide bid from Georgie W forced Pedroza to move on Transect before the quarter pole. Instead, Georgie W might have stuck his nose in front turning for home, and after disposing of that rival, shifting inside and back out again, Verifying nearly was caught by Raise Cain.
“When they came to me, he was kind of playing around a little,” Pedroza said.
Raise Cain, the Gotham winner, very much was not playing around. Trainer Ben Colebrook chose this race over the Iowa Derby on Saturday and chose well. The Indiana Derby required a photo to verify the result. The big favorite with the big pedigree had held on.
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