BY LAURIE ROSS
Some stallions separate themselves early and Verifying (Justify – Diva Delite, by Repent), the most accomplished son of Triple Crown hero Justify, standing outside Kentucky, is one.
Now entering his third season at Pleasant Acres Stallions, the Grade 3 winner with multiple Grade 1 placings offers a compelling blend of strong pedigree, solid conformation and demonstrated versatility across distances.
AT THE RACES
Bred by Hunter Valley & Mountmellick Farm LLC, Verifying attracted the attention of the international powerhouse partnership, Westerberg (Georg von Opel) and Coolmore (Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor),who secured him for $775,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Placed in the care of Brad Cox, Verifying wasted little time delivering on expectations. He broke his maiden at first asking at Saratoga in a maiden special weight, then followed with a strong second to Blazing Sevens in the 2022 Champagne Stakes (Grade 1), confirming his ability to compete at the highest level early in his career.
As a 3-year-old, Verifying took a significant step forward when he missed by only a neck to Tapit Trice in the 2023 Toyota Blue Grass (G1), with Blazing Sevens finishing third.
That performance placed him squarely among the leading contenders on the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) trail. In the Derby, Verifying contested a quick early pace before fading, but the effort did little to diminish his standing.
Verifying quickly regained form with a runner-up finish in the Matt Winn (G3), then followed up with a determined victory in the Indiana Derby (G3) over Gotham (G3)-winner Raise Cain.
Later that summer, he added another Grade 1 placing to his resume when finishing second to 19-1 outsider One in Vermillion in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1). Verifying retired with a race record of three wins and four seconds in 11 starts with earnings totaling $852,706.
PEDIGREE
Verifying offers a pedigree that blends classic influence with a female family long associated with durability and graded stakes success.
Capable from six furlongs to a mile-and-an-eighth, Verifying remained effective as distances increased. He demonstrated the ability to succeed as a sprinter and the stamina to carry his speed.
This positions him as a sire capable of producing runners effective beyond pure sprint distances without sacrificing tactical speed.
“Verifying is impeccable. He is extraordinary looking,” Pleasant Acres Stallions Director of Stallion Services Christine Jones said. “His conformation is lovely. He has a very, very strong shoulder, very good balance. [He is] a very fast type.
“His personality is pretty good. I think he probably tends to be a little bit like Justify. He is very classy in the breeding shed for sure. And I think his personality is just a smidgen different as he tends to be a little more excitable here and there. But [he] exudes that level of class all the time.”
As a Horse of the Year and emerging sire of sires, Justify (Scat Daddy, Stage Magic, by Ghostzapper) contributes stamina, two-turn influence and the scope typical of Scat Daddy’s top sons. His progeny carry speed around two turns, excel from sprints through routes and include early types such as 2023 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Just F Y I.
Verifying’s distaff line adds soundness and competitive class, traits that complement stamina-oriented sire lines.
His dam, Florida-bred Diva Delite (Repent – Tour Hostess, by Tour d’Or), was a later-maturing juvenile who broke her maiden in her fifth start. A Clover Leaf Farms homebred, she put together a five-race win streak from late in her 2-year-old season through the following April, capturing three stakes, including the Grade 3 Florida Oaks at Tampa Bay Downs.
Diva Delite won from five-and-a-half furlongs to a mile-and-a-sixteenth, showed versatility on dirt and turf, and was off the board only once, retiring with a 17-8-4-3 record of eight wins in 17 starts with four seconds, three thirds and $300,067 in earnings. As a broodmare, Diva Delite elevated the family further, producing elite performers combining class, durability and versatility, including:
Midnight Bisou (by Midnight Lute), 2019 Champion Older Dirt Female, who competed at the highest level for four seasons and never finished worse than third in her 22-race career. She won from sprints through middle distances and compiled a race record of 14 wins, five seconds and three thirds from 22 races and $13,971,520 in earnings—not bad for a filly who sold for $80,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Sales April Sale as a 2-year-old.
Stage Left (by Congrats), a Grade 3-placed sprinter who won his debut during his freshman year and went on to capture the $100,000 King T. Leatherbury Stakes at Laurel Park and the $100,000 Rumson Stakes at Monmouth. Still competing as a 10-year-old, in January 2025, he has compiled $825,918 from a 15 wins, 10 seconds and 10 thirds in 63 starts.
Verifying’s second dam, the Florida-bred Tour Hostess (Tour d’Or – Counsel’s Gal, by High Counsel), placed in a pair of stakes as a sprinter and earned $215,356 from 66 starts, reflecting consistency and durability.
This long-established Florida family began with Verifying’s fifth dam, Cargreen, who came to the state in the 1960s. She is also the fifth dam of 2004 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Sweet Catomine and her full sister, 2009 Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Life Is Sweet.
Verifying’s damsire, Repent (Louis Quatorze – Baby Grace (ARG), by Cipayo (ARG)), won the 2001 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) and 2002 Louisiana Derby (G2) and finished second to Medaglia d’Oro in the Travers (G1) before beginning his stud career at Cloverleaf.
After siring several black-type earners, including multiple graded-winner Crown of Thorns, runner-up by a head in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), Repent moved to Kentucky.
Repent’s daughters bore eight stakes winners, capable on turf and dirt to middle distances.
STUD CAREER
Verifying is one of only two sons of Justify standing in Florida. His first foals are yearlings in 2026 and early impressions have been positive.
Jones observes, “Overall, they are a very stunning group. They are a mix of the sire and whichever dams they might be out of.”
Verifying is well suited to mares with natural speed or brilliance as his pedigree supplies the depth, stamina and physical structure to stretch that speed effectively.
His profile appeals to breeders seeking competitive runners in stakes company from a mile through middle distances, while retaining the versatility, class and athleticism favored by today’s marketplace.
Verifying stands the 2026 breeding season at Pleasant Acres Stallions for $10,000.
Return to the January 27 issue of Wire to Wire
