Authentic validated his status as one of the top 3-year-old Thoroughbreds in the country on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020 at Keeneland, with an emphatic gate to wire win over stablemate Improbable and five other Grade 1 winners in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
It was an impressive win for the 2020 Kentucky Derby winner, as he broke from the gate on a beautiful, sunlit afternoon, took the lead under jockey John Velazquez, and never looked back, crossing the finish line as the 2-1/4 length winner. Coming in third, one length behind second-place Improbable, was Global Campaign.
Authentic scored an impressive 2-1/4 length victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on Saturday, Nov. 7. (Photo courtesy of Keeneland photos.)
Trained by Bob Baffert, Authentic, who is by Into Mischief-Flawless, by Mr. Greeley, finished the 1-1/4-mile race on the dirt track listed as “Fast,” in a new track record time of 1:59.19. The previous track record of 2:00.07was set in 2015 by American Pharoah. (Note: there were no fractions available for the race as the timing system malfunctioned. Final time was done by hand.)
The win in the Classic was the first for hall of fame jockey Velazquez; one of the few big races he hadn’t won in his career. It was also the fourth for Baffert, who had previously won with Bayern (2014), American Pharoah (2015) and Arrogate (2016).
Owned by Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing, the beautiful bay colt won five times in seven starts this year, and improved his overall record to 6 wins, 2 seconds, and $6,191,200 in earnings in 8 career starts.
“You know what, they were all training so well and [Authentic] was training well,’ said Baffert, who also trained Improbable and Maximum Security in the race. “I think Johnny [Velazquez] got to know him a lot better and he’s just a quirky guy. But when I saw him out there, he’s catching up with these older horses. That’s what they do at this time of year. What a horse. He’s the real deal. … That was awesome!”
Velazquez concurred with Baffert’s assessment saying, “It’s incredible. Thanks God and the whole team. The older I get, the more emotional I get. It worked out perfect. Bob said to take him to the lead so he doesn’t wander so much and keep his mind on running. It worked out. He did everything I wanted him to do.”
To say the field for the 2020 Classic was loaded would be an understatement of epic proportions, as six of the 10 entries were grade 1 winners.
To start, there was Tiz the Law, who opened 2020 on fire, scoring wins in the Holy Bull Stakes (G1) and the Florida Derby (G1), before winning the Belmont Stakes (G1), which was run as the first of the Classics this year because of the Coronavirus, and was run only at 1-1/4 miles instead of the usual 1-1/2 miles.
Tiz the Law then added to his status with a dominating 5-1/2-length victory in the Travers Stakes (G1), making him the favorite going into the Kentucky Derby, which was being run in September this year.
However, on Derby day, he just didn’t seem to like the Churchill track and finished second to Authentic. It should be noted that Tiz the Law’s only other career loss came at Churchill as well.
Owned by Sakatogs Stables, the same group that owned 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, and trained by Barclay Tagg, he would be ridden by Manny Franco and break from post position 2.
Then there was Authentic, who also started the season on strong note as well, winning the Sham Stakes (G3), the San Felipe Stakes (G2), finishing second to Honor A.P. in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), before bouncing back to win the Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1). Those races all led to his strong performance in winning the Kentucky Derby.
Following the Derby, he finished second to the super-filly Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness, before being rested until the Classic.
As noted, Authentic was trained by Baffert, would be ridden by Velazquez and break from post position 9.
Improbable was another Baffert trainee. In 2020, he was coming into the race off three straight Grade 1 victories in the Gold Cup, the Whitney Handicap and the Awesome again Stakes.
Owned by Winstar Farm, the China Horse Club and SF Racing, he would be ridden by Irad Ortiz and break from post position 8.
Maximum Security, best known for winning the 2019 Kentucky Derby then disqualified for interference, is the third Baffert trainee in the race. Baffert became trainer earlier this year when owner Gary West switched his horse to Baffert’s barn after his original trainer, John Servis, was caught up in a drug sting, which is still being litigated in court.
The bay 4-year old colt also had a solid 2020 season. After winning the inaugural Saudi Cup, though that is still in litigation due to Servis, he won the San Diego Handicap (G2) and the Pacific Classic (G1), before running strong but finishing second to Improbable in the Awesome Again Stakes just prior to the Classic. Still he cannot be overlooked.
Owned by Gary and Mary West, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, he would be ridden in the race by Luis Saez, and break from the far outside in post position 10.
Those were probably the top four horses race fans would be watching, but there were still a few other horses coming into the race with impressive resumes.
Tom’s d’Etat had a Grade 1 win earlier this year in the Oaklawn Mile, while Global Campaign had a Grade 1 win in the Woodward Handicap. Both horses were capable of winning the Classic, but did not fare well in the race, finishing ninth and tenth, respectively.
One final horse that was worth watching was fan-favorite, Tacitus. A beautiful gray, his biggest win in 2020 came in the Suburban Handicap (G2). And, while he was bumped early in the Classic, he did what he always does, and ran his heart out in the race. In the end, he finished fourth, two lengths behind Global Campaign.
As for the race itself, which was run in front of limited attendance due to Covid restrictions, Authentic broke alertly, went straight for the lead and set the pace for the race just off the rail. He then held his lead down the backstretch and around the final turn. As he reached the eighth pole, he seemed to kick into another gear, and with little urging from Velazquez down the stretch, crossed the wire a 2-1/4-length winner.
Behind him was Improbable in second, with Global Campaign third, followed by Tacitus, Maximum Security, Tiz the Law, Title Ready, By My Standards, Tom’s d’Etat, and Higher Power.
With the win, Authentic now stakes his claim to possible Horse of the Year honors. As to whether that could happen, Baffert said, “He sealed the deal. It’s not a fluke. He’s the best horse in America.”
Authentic paid $10.40, $5.40 and $4.20 for the win, while Improbable paid $4.80 and $3.30 for second, and Global Campaign paid $8.80 for third.
Postscript: On Monday following the Breeders’ Cup, it was announced that Authentic would be retired and begin his stud career. He will stand at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington for a fee of $75,000.
Update: On Wed., Nov. 11, Keeneland
and Equibase announced that they reviewed the tape of the race and now have
official results – fractions and final time. Their statement read:
“Prior to the running
of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on November 7, 2020, at Keeneland, a photo eye
at the start of the race was inadvertently tripped, which resulted in an error
when attempting to operate the timing system manually causing inaccurate timing
for all fractions and the final time of the race. A final time of 1:59.19 was
initially provided by Equibase using the available video replay.
“After subsequent and more detailed review and timing of the race from multiple sources and camera angles, Keeneland and Equibase have determined the fractional times for the Classic (:23.20, :46.84, 1:10.32, 1:34.64) and confirmed a final time of 1:59.60. The Classic chart has been updated and the running of Authentic in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic is now the official track record for the 1 1/4-mile distance at Keeneland.”
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