Authentic

Authentic won his career debut by 1 ½ lengths on Nov. 9 at Del Mar, dueling for the early lead and then pulling away in the stretch in the 5 ½-furlong race. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert subsequently entered him in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes Jan. 4 at Santa Anita for his second start. Authentic again proved much the best, surging to a eight-length lead in early stretch before he became distracted by the crowd and ducked in sharply. He continued to race greenly in the stretch but won by 7 ¾ lengths in a powerhouse performance.

Facing a far more difficult test in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes March 7, Authentic aced the exam yet again by setting the pace and then turning back Honor A. P. in the stretch in a convincing 2 1/4-length victory. The 50 points toward qualifying for the 2020 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve cemented his place in the starting gate May 2 at Churchill Downs.

In the rescheduled Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on June 6, Authentic tasted defeat for the first time when he broke out at the start and raced wide throughout before he was passed by. Honor A. P. in early stretch in a runner-up finish.

Authentic made his next start in the TVG.com Haskell Stakes July 18 at Monmouth Park. He set the pace in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell, opened a clear lead in deep stretch, and then dug in gamely late to hold off fast-closing Ny Traffic by a nose in a thrilling finish.

Baffert sent him on to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs. Many pundits questioned Authentic’s ability to excel at the 1 1/4-mile distance, but the Into Mischief colt proved them wrong. He got off to a bit of a slow start under John Velazquez, but moved up steadily to take the lead entering the first turn, with heavily favored Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law positioned to his outside in an ideal stalking spot along the backstretch. Tiz the Law moved up to challenge Authentic on the final turn and briefly appeared to push his head in front, but Authentic would not be denied as he fought back willingly from the inside and edged away late to win the coveted run for the roses, giving Baffert his record-equaling sixth win in the race and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez his 200th career Grade 1 win.

Authentic again showed his class in the Preakness Stakes Oct. 3 when he ran a gallant race in defeat, coming up just short after a thrilling stretch duel with Grade 1-winning filly Swiss Skydiver at Pimlico.

Authentic made his next start in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 7 at Keeneland. He set an uncontested pace under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez and turned back a bid from multiple Grade 1-winning stablemate Improbable en route to a dominant victory in the $6 million race.

That win made Authentic the overwhelming favorite to earn Horse of the Year honors at the Eclipse Awards, and he did so on Jan. 28, earning 224 out of 238 first-place votes. Authentic also was named champion 3-year-old male.

Authentic is out of the Mr. Greeley mare Flawless, who won her career debut at seven-eighths of a mile and then ran second in her second and final race going a mile. His grandam (maternal grandmother), Oyster Baby, was unraced, while his third dam (maternal great-grandmother) was Grade 3-winning sprinter Really Fancy, by In Reality.