Looking to record his first victory under the Twinspires in a year, Verifire (Authentic–Ruby Trust, by Smart Strike) got the job done with a tidy 3/4-length score in Louisville in Wednesday afternoon.
The chestnut was named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' following an eye-catching 6 1/4-length victory going six panels at Colonial in March of 2025 before winning his next two starts impressively, including the seven-furlong Maxfield Stakes at Churchill Downs later in June. Taking money in the GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial Stakes in Saratoga at the end of August, the chestnut was eased late in the seven-furlong test won by Patch Adams. Sent to the sidelines for the remainder of the season, he reappeared with a solid third-place finish in a six-furlong optional claimer over a sloppy track at this venue on May 22. Installed the 3-2 choice in this second go, the $1-million OBS March purchase shot out of the gate like a cannon, carving out opening splits of :21.77 and a half in :44.37. Momentarily headed by Tough Catch (Complexity) at the quarter pole, the Brad Cox trainee regained the lead straightening for home and held Tough Catch at bay late to score by 3/4 lengths.
Ruby Trust, a daughter of Grade III winner Queen ofthe Catsle (Tale of the Cat), is also responsible for a 3-year-old colt by McKinzie (Golden Tornado) in addition to a juvenile filly by Olympiad. She dropped a McKinzie filly in 2026.
8th-Churchill Downs, $137,367, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($100,000), 6-17, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.01, ft, 3/4 length.
VERIFIRE (c, 4, Authentic–Ruby Trust {SP, $145,212}, by Smart Strike) Lifetime Record: 6-4-0-1, $323,404. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV. Sales history: $260,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP; $1,000,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR.
O-Resolute Racing, Delta Squad Racing, LLC and Anderson Stables, LLC; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
VERIFIRE ($5.18) is back after a stretch battle with #4 Tough Catch in Race 8 at @ChurchillDowns. @IradOrtiz was aboard the son of @SpendthriftFarm stallion Authentic for the @bradcoxracing team and owners @resracingky and Delta Squad Racing. pic.twitter.com/YGctHKkK1N
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 17, 2026
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