Authentic’s Verifire blazes to victory in Reigh Count S.

Verifire returned to stakes company for the first time this year in Saturday’s $100,000 Reigh Count S. at Colonial Downs and the 4-year-old Authentic colt rewarded his connections with a near track-record performance in the seven-furlong contest named after the 1928 Kentucky Derby winner and unofficial Horse of the Year.

Verifire is one of five stakes winners this year for Authentic, who is in the top four on the Third-Crop Sire list.

Winner of the 2025 Maxfield S., Verifire was making his first appearance in a stakes since returning in late May from a nine-month layoff. His game victory in a June 17 allowance set him up for Saturday’s race.

The pace was very fast from the outset, with Verifire in second behind Celtic Contender, who posted a half-mile of :44.59. The battle for the lead began in earnest coming into the stretch. Celtic Contender still had a narrow advantage after six furlongs in 1:07.71, but Verifire had him measured and drew off to win by 2 ¼-lengths in 1:20.14, just a tick off the track record.

Verifire earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 103 in victory.

“I could see everything happening inside, so I decided to stay out there in the clear,” jockey Manny Franco said. “I felt like I was comfortable enough. I wasn’t in a hurry.”

Verifire is an excellent 5-0-1 in seven starts and has earned $383,404 for owners Resolute Racing, Delta Squad Racing, LLC and Anderson Stables, LLC. The chestnut colt was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, LTD.