HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Verifying, a half-brother to champion Midnight Bisou who is tied atop the Beyer Speed Figure standings for 3-year-olds, will likely make his next start in a Kentucky Derby points race at Oaklawn Park or Fair Grounds, according to trainer Brad Cox.   Verifying was a first-level allowance winner at a mile Jan. 14 at Oaklawn and the Beyer of 97 that he earned ranks first in his division. A day later, Hejazi won a maiden sprint at Santa Anita with the same number. Verifying has since returned to his base at Fair Grounds, said Cox.  “We haven’t really made a decision on a race yet,” Cox said Monday. “I’m probably going to lean toward the Rebel, but it just depends on how this race at the Fair Grounds comes up, as well, the Risen Star. It’s going to be one of those two.”  :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match and FREE Formulator PPs! Join DRF Bets. The Grade 2, $400,000 Risen Star will be run over 1 1/8 miles Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds. The Grade 2, $1 million Rebel at 1 1/16 miles is set for Feb. 25 at Oaklawn.  Verifying was a debut winner at Saratoga in August and one start later ran second in the Grade 1 Champagne at the Belmont-at-Aqueduct meet. From there, Verifying was a troubled sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The race at Oaklawn marked his 3-year-old debut and he tracked the pace and went on to a 5 1/4-length win in a sharp time of 1:37.23.  “I was very happy with what I saw and how he came out of it as well,” Cox said.  Verifying is a May foal by Justify and the Grade 3-winning mare Diva Delite. He was a $775,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September in 2021.  “He’s a beautiful horse, well balanced,” Cox said. “I think probably one of his best attributes is that he’s kind of easy on himself. He’s not a horse that wants to over-train. He just kind of goes along and does what’s asked. He’s not super aggressive. I think on this Triple Crown trail, that’s something Essential Quality taught me – you kind of have to have a horse that doesn’t want to overdo it all the time. It’s a long, grueling, tough road to get down.”  :: DRF Bets players have exclusive access to FREE DRF Past Performances - Classic or Formulator! Join today.  Verifying races for the partnership of Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith, and Michael Tabor.  Cox has a total of three horses on the top 10 list of Beyers for 3-year-olds of 2023. The others are Instant Coffee, who earned a 92 for his win in the Lecomte at Fair Grounds, and Victory Formation, who earned a 91 for his win in the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn.  Hejazi is trained by Bob Baffert, who has five 3-year-olds on the same top 10 list of Beyers.    :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.