Kentucky Derby (Grade 1)

IF everyone can attest to it being the strangest of years – there would be none more so than Bob Baffert.

Back in the spring it looked like he had four three-year-olds all with claims of Kentucky Derby success.

Nadal got injured, Charlatan won in Oaklawn, lost after a positive substance test, got injured and he was gone too. Two colts made it to Kentucky in September for the delayed Derby. So far so good? Thousand Words bowled over in the parade ring and he was out. And then there was one.

But one was all it needed. Authentic was only the third favourite behind Tiz The Law and Honor A P and drawn widest of all in 15.

But chased into the lead by Johnny Velazquez, he was never headed, holding off the persistent challenge of Tiz The Law all the way up the straight and there was no doubt he was the better horse on the day, winning by a length and a quarter.

Baffert was winning a record-equalling sixth victory in this 146th running of the $3 million classic.

Legendary trainer Ben Jones had captured the American classic six times from 1938-52.

Authentic completed the distance in 2m 00.61secs, over a second off Secretariat’s track record of 1m 59.05secs in 1973. His time was the seventh-fastest of all time and fastest since Monarchos’ 1m 59.97 in 2001.

Though the colt brought a four-from-five win record into the race, he had looked too barely last home in the Haskell Stakes at Monmouth previously, lasting home by a nose from NY Traffic over a furlong less.

Authentic is owned by Spendthrift Farm, Madaket Stables, Starlight Racing and Myracehorse.com. The latter bought 12.5% of the colt after the Santa Anita Derby and sold it off in 4,500 micro shares to the public for $206, to ‘own’ a piece of the Derby winner and his potential stud value.

The Into Mischief colt cost $350,000 in Keeneland in September 2018. His sire stands at Spendthrift for $175,000.

Baffert was very emotional after the race, as well as tying the record, his longtime assistant, Jimmy Barnes, fractured he wrist when he tried to control the rearing Thousand Words in the paddock before the race.

“Jimmy, poor guy, is in an ambulance right now. Can’t enjoy it. This is so emotional, the ups and downs in this game. Unbelievable,” Baffert said. He also paid tribute to John Velazquez, saying “That man won me the Derby.”

Plunged

Authentic also gave Baffert a scare in the winner’s enclosure, where he plunged forward and caused the trainer to fall as he moved back to get out of the colt’s way.

Justify, American Pharoah, War Emblem, Silver Charm and Real Quiet were Baffert’s other winners. Velazquez notched his third Derby success following Animal Kingdom and Always Dreaming.

Velazquez praised Baffert in the press conference saying he assured him he would stay. “That’s all you ask for a horse, that when you get after him and they give you everything they can, and he did. I mean, he responded. Every time I asked him for more, he gave more.

“And what a feeling what a feeling I had.”

Barclay Tagg, the trainer of Tiz The Law, was disappointed saying simply: “He didn’t win it. Baffert’s hard to beat.”

Honor A. P., the second favourite was impeded as they left the gates and jockey Mike Smith said he failed to handle though he stayed on for fourth and finished five lengths behind the winner.

The Preakness Stakes at Pimlico was moved to last in the Triple Crown series and is set for October 3rd and likely to be Authentic’s next race.

Tiz The Law may not renew rivalry with Tagg seeming to prefer the Breeders’ Cup.

“I’ll have that discussion with Barclay, and we’ll take a little time to see,” the Sackatoga Stables manager Jack Knowlton said later.

“We’ve just got to see how he comes out and see how he works when we have the next work in a couple weeks. We’ll have time for a couple works.”

Though racegoers were not allowed, media, owners, and owners’ guests, trainers, assistants, grooms and other caretakers were alllowed.

Protesters in Louisville were closely monitored by police along Central Avenue. A moment of silence was observed before the race and the traditional playing of My Old Kentucky Home.