AUTHENTIC TAKES HASKELL FOR BAFFERT

Authentic gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his record-extending ninth victory in the $1 million Haskell Stakes Saturday, holding off late charging Ny Traffic by a nose at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Jockey Mike Smith put the Santa Anita Derby runner-up on the lead at the start and they covered the 11⁄8-mile Grade I stakes in 1:50.46. The win was the third in four starts this year for the colt.

Belmont runner-up Dr. Post finished third under jockey Joe Bravo.

Smith, who made the trip in from the West Coast and had to pass a coronavirus test before gaining entrance to the track, broke Authentic ($3.20) from the No. 2 post and never lost the lead.

“He’s a colt with an abundance of talent. Ability is something he does not lack. He’s got a lot of it,” said Smith. “But what he is lacking right now, he’s learning. He’s growing up. He sees things. Down the backside if you get a chance to look at the head on there are a lot of shadows back there from the sun at this point. He looked at every single one of them and he wouldn’t let me get him down close to the fence because he was looking at them too much.”

Baffert last won the Haskell in 2015 with American Pharoah, one of two colts he guided to the Triple Crown.

Justify (2018) was the other.

Baffert’s other Haskell winners were in 2014 (Bayern), 2012 (Paynter), 2011 (Coil), 2010 (Lookin at Lucky), 2005 (Roman Ruler), 2002 (War Emblem) and 2001 (Point Given).

Authentic won his first three starts before finishing second to Honor A.P. in the Grade I race in California in his last start on June 6.

Ny Traffic, who finished second in the Matt Winn in Kentucky in his last start, came flying late and just could not catch Authentic before the finish line with Paco Lopez in the irons.

Authentic earned 100 points for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5. The winner also earned a berth for the

Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Just before the Haskell, jockey Joe Bravo rallied Aquaphobia ($23.40) in the stretch to a narrow victory over Paret in the $300,000 The United Nations Stakes, the only other Grade I race run in New Jersey. It’s was Bravo’s fifth win in the race.

Elsewhere

Baffert almost made it 2for-2 in Grade I races on Saturday, but his trainee, Crystal Ball, came up just short at the wire to Paris Lights ($6) in the Coaching Club America Oaks for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Paris Lights is trained by Bill Mott and was ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.