Authentic Gives Baffert Record-Tying Sixth Kentucky Derby Victory

Authentic, under jockey John Velazque, winning the 146th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (GI).

© Courtesy Kentucky Derby

Trained by Bob Baffert, a former Quarter Horse trainer, and ridden by John Velazquez, Authentic covered the classic distance of a mile and quarter in 2:00.61 over a fast track.

Authentic is a Kentucky-bred son of Into Mischief out of the Mr. Greeley mare Flawless.

Authentic’s victory gave Baffert and Velazquez milestone achievements.

For Baffert it was his sixth Kentucky Derby victory, a total that ties him with Ben Jones for the most all time. Baffert’s other victories came in 1997 with Silver Charm, 1998 with Real Quiet, 2002 with War Emblem, 2015 with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and 2018 with Triple Crown winner Justify.

For Velazquez, it was his 200th Grade I victory and third Kentucky Derby triumph. His previous victories came with Always Dreaming in 2017 and Animal Kingdom in 2011.

Authentic outsprinted Storm the Court and Ny Trafiic for the lead and first quarter-mile in :22.92 as Tiz the Law settled into fourth and in the clear. Authentic continued unopposed on the front end through fractions of :46.41 and 1:10.23 but by the time he completed the mile in 1:35.02, Tiz the Law had pulled alongside and the two hit the top of the stretch together.

Tiz the Law, with Manny Franco aboard, briefly struck his head in front only to have Authentic fight right back and spurt clear again to a daylight advantage he held to the wire.

The victory was worth $1,860,000 and increased Authentic’s earnings to $2,871,200 with a record of 6-5-1-0.

B. Wayne Hughes' Spendthrift Farm stands Authentic's sire Into Mischief.

Into Mischief, who is the leading Thoroughbred sire in the nation, became available to Quarter Horse mares during the 2020 breeding season through a deal between Spendthrift Farms and Robicheaux Ranch.

"It is just amazing that in the Quarter Horse industry we are able to breed to the top sire in the world on the Thoroughbred side that is producing the Kentucky Derby winner," Ryan Robicheaux said this week.

"Authentic showed his grit and his ability to carry his speed at a distance, and that is what we are hoping the Quarter Horse offspring from Into Mischief will also do when they hit the track," he added.

From nine crops to race Into Mischief's progeny have earned $74.3 million with $102,848 average earnings per starter.

His fee 2020 Thoroughbred fee was $175,000 and his Quarter Horse fee was $10,000, frozen semen only.