San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
AUTHENTIC UPSET
Trainer Baffert wins sixth Derby as his colt beats heavily favored Tiz the Law in stirring stretch drive
First, one of trainer Bob Baffert’s two horses took a tumble in the paddock before the start of the Kentucky Derby. Then, after the race, Baffert went to the ground after his other horse got fractious in the winner’s circle. In between was a history-making performance by front-running Authentic to win the 146th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Authentic’s win over heavily favored Tiz the Law gave Baffert his sixth Kentucky Derby win, tying him with Ben Jones for the most all time.
As the 8-1 third choice and starting from the farthest outside post, Authentic didn’t break immediately on top but conserved energy while getting to the lead by the clubhouse turn. The early pace for the 11⁄4-mile race was sharp — 6 furlongs in 1:10.23 — and Tiz the Law was always within striking distance. Exiting the far turn, the race appeared to be Tiz the Law’s to win but Authentic dug in and even extended his lead to win by 11⁄4 lengths in 2:00.61.
“It’s always a concern that you let the horse do too much early in the race,” said jockey John Velazquez, who won the Derby for the third time. “You like to save ground and save some horse for the end. … Bob
kept telling me to make sure I saved (something for) that last eighth of a mile.” And that’s what happened.
It ended the second fairy-tale story of 82-year-old trainer Barclay Tagg and an ownership group called Sackatoga Stable. It was 17 years earlier that this combination went into the Derby and pulled a shocking upset with Funny Cide. This time, with an upside-down racing year, they had the winner of the Belmont Stakes and also the Travers Stakes, which is normally held after the Triple Crown races. But the Kentucky Derby was beyond their reach.
“Bob, he’s got the magic touch,” said Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable. “He had this horse ready at the right time and he beat us. Hopefully, we’ll get some more shots at him and we’ll turn the table on him.”
Saturday’s drama for Baffert started before the race when Thousand Words, the fourth betting choice, had to be scratched after he reared up in the paddock and fell, hitting his head and shoulder. During the incident, Baffert said his longtime assistant, Jimmy Barnes, broke his arm in a fall.
“I have a lot of emotions running through my mind right now with Jimmy not being able to be here,” Baffert said, his voice cracking. “… This is so emotional, the ups and downs in this game. Unbelievable.”
Authentic paid $18.80 to win. Tiz the Law, at 3-5 the first odds-on Derby favorite since Arazi in 1992, was second, two lengths ahead of 45-1 long shot Mr. Big News. Honor A. P., the second choice at 7-1, rallied after a slow beginning to finish fourth in the 15-horse field.
The remainder of the field, in order, were Max Player, Storm the Court, Enforceable, Ny Traffic, Necker Island, Major Fed, Sole Volante, Winning Impression, Money Moves, Attachment Rate and
South Bend.
“The key to this race was the break,” Baffert said. “We knew we had to get away from there. We talked about where certain people would be. Johnny is a world-class jockey and knows where everyone should be. I told him what I thought and he told me what he thought. I said, ‘I like your plan.’
“(Velazquez) earned this. He beat a really good horse. Tiz the Law is a top-notch horse. I feel bad for the connections. I’ve been there. But this never gets old.”
It has been a difficult Triple Crown season for Baffert. If the Derby were held on its usual first Saturday in May, Baffert would have had two of the favorites in Nadal and Charlatan, but both were injured and taken off the trail when the race was postponed. Meanwhile, Baffert went through a series of talented but inexperienced colts, such as Uncle Chuck and Cezanne, but they faltered. In the end, though, he still had Authentic, who debuted last fall at Del Mar and had won four of five career starts, losing only to Honor A. P. in the Santa Anita Derby.
His most recent victory came July 18 in the Haskell Stakes, over 11⁄8 miles at Monmouth,
but the son of Into Mischief gave up a huge lead in the stretch and beat Ny Traffic only by a nose. It made most believe that Authentic could not handle the extra furlong of the Derby. But Baffert trained him hard last month at Del Mar, putting Authentic through a series of six workouts ranging from 4 furlongs to a mile.
The race was held without fans and under a cloud of protests in Louisville after police shot and killed Breonna Taylor, a Black medical worker, on March 13, after utilizing a no-knock warrant believing her home was used for selling drugs. No drugs were found at the home located six miles from Churchill Downs. One officer was fired and two are still on the force. The case is still under investigation with no charges having been filed.
Protesters called for the Kentucky Derby to be canceled. Churchill Downs issued a statement mid-week acknowledging its concerns and offering support of the cause. Before the playing of “My Old Kentucky Home,” the track announcer referenced the “inequities” in society. The song was played with a lone bugler, and no words.
On Saturday, protesters and counter-protesters had verbal confrontations but there were no immediate reports of physical altercations.
Back inside Churchill Downs, the only confrontation was a whirling Authentic in the winner’s circle. It sent Baffert to the turf but unhurt.
All things considered, he was OK with it.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.