After winning year, Authentic is retired
Breeders’ Cup Classic and Kentucky Derby champion will begin his career as a stallion.
Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic has been retired at the peak of his career and will be sent to Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Ky., to start a career as a stallion.
On Saturday, Authentic, a 3- year- old, won the Classic by 21⁄4 lengths while running against older horses. Two months earlier, Authentic won the Kentucky Derby, giving trainer Bob Baffert his sixth Derby victory. Baffert has trained the colt during his entire two- year ca-reer.
Authentic finished his career with six wins in eight starts, earning more than $ 6.19 million. His two losses were second- place f inishes in the Santa Anita Derby and the Preakness Stakes.
“Ultimately, we just felt there wasn’t a lot more to accomplish for a Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup
Classic winner, so we have made the decision to retire Authentic to stand alongside his champion sire, Into Mischief,” said Ned Toffey, general manager at Spendthrift.
Horse racing often retires its stars young because of the money that is available through stud fees. Authentic will go for $ 75,000 for each breeding that results in a live foal. Into Mischief, who can breed with about 200 mares a year, has a fee of $ 225,000.
Authentic, who was bought as a yearling for $ 350,000, had a different ownership structure in which Spendthrift was the majority owner and made all the decisions. However, 12.5% was sold to MyRacehorse. com, which in turn sold 12,500 microshares at $ 206 each. More than 5,300 people bought shares, with each share worth 0.001% of all breeding and racing monies. There are additional partners in the horse.
Among those who bought a share was Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler. He attended the Breeders’ Cup as an owner, albeit a small one, this past weekend at Keeneland Race Course in his native Lexington.