Authentic to Train Up to Kentucky Derby

With the win secured in the July 18 TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, Authentic will train into the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Bob Baffert reported Sunday that Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing's Into Mischief  colt came out of the Haskell in terrific shape and was headed by van to Lexington, where he will remain for a week before catching a flight back to his Southern California base.

Baffert also said Authentic has some lessons to learn over the next seven weeks ahead of the next Triple Crown race.

After racing to what appeared to be a comfortable lead in the stretch on the way to an easy victory, Authentic and jockey Mike Smith had to hold off a determined and fast-closing Ny Traffic. The margin of victory was a nose—the fourth time in the Haskell's 53-year history it has produced that margin of victory.

"We're going to work on him a little until (the Derby)," Baffert said. "I was pretty proud of him. He ran well. I might have to put a little blinker on him because he went to idling on me. Turning for home, I kept waiting for him to turn it on, but he was doing some looking around and idling there. Mike saw (Ny Traffic) coming at the last minute."

The victory extended Baffert's record for Haskell wins to nine.

Authentic, meanwhile, achieved millionaire status with the winner's share of the Haskell purse. He has won four of his five starts.

"He's a late foal. He's maturing, but he's a quirky little guy," Baffert said. "I think that it's impressive that he shipped, he got on a plane, he went all the way over there, and he handled it well. He didn't get hot in the paddock. He handled it all well, and that's what you want to see. I'm happy with him. But he still has a lot of improving to do." 

Baffert said had Authentic not won, it would have been what he termed a "horrible beat," but the trainer was in an upbeat mood the day after and shared some of the conversation he and Smith had immediately after the race.

"It was funny," Baffert said. "I told Mike, 'You know, you've got to stay busy on him.' And Mike said, 'Well, we turned for home and he cut, and I thought he was OK, and I was smooching to him. I said, 'Um, Mike, he had earplugs in.' It was pretty funny. But it worked out right. It worked out good. But Mike said when that horse came to him, he could feel it. He wasn't going to let him get by him. He just took off. I'm proud of him."

Baffert was also quick to praise the effort by Ny Traffic.

"I have to give credit to the horse who ran second. The track wasn't that fast yesterday," he said. "That Ny Traffic is a nice horse. He's right there. He gets beat by the good horses, so you have to give him credit, too."

Ny Traffic has yet to win a stakes race, but he's been second in graded stakes in his past three starts.

"I hope when he does (break through), it's not my door that he knocks down," Baffert said.

Ny Traffic's trainer, Saffie Joseph Jr., was philosophical the morning after the race.

"That was a tough beat, but to be honest, it really didn't hurt that much because I am just so proud of this horse," he said. "He ran an amazing race. At the quarter pole, it looked like he was all done and (Authentic) was going to win easily. But he got going again, and I'm very proud of him. He showed he's got a lot of guts, a lot of heart, and a lot of fight in him. Most definitely."  

Next up it's the Kentucky Derby and a rematch with Authentic.

"I thought we already had enough Derby points going in, so the important thing was to just get a good race into him," he said. "Now it's about who is moving forward, not who has peaked or is going backward. Going forward is the most important thing right now, and that's why that tough beat can't really hurt me.

"I was just really happy to see him take that major step forward. That's the most important thing. Most definitely, there is a lot to be excited about with him. I just want him to stay sound and healthy, and then we're on to the Derby." 

John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, and Paul Braverman's Ny Traffic, who would be Joseph's first Kentucky Derby starter, was reported to have come out of his race in excellent shape. He left Monmouth by van at 8 a.m. ET Sunday for upstate New York to rejoin Joseph's Saratoga Race Course string. 

Authentic is second on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 200 points. Ny Traffic is fourth with 110.

Joseph also ran Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham, and Legacy Ranch's Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) hopeful Tonalist's Shape Saturday in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga. Sporting blinkers for the first time, the Tonalist  filly was rank early and lacked a late punch to finish fourth as the favorite.

"The blinkers, I knew, could have that effect. I thought the blinkers for her was going to be hit or miss. It was either going to make a big difference or it was going to be a big mistake. It turned out to be a big mistake," Joseph said. "We thought we were making the right decision. We had to give it a try. I'll take the blame for that. I can't blame her. She got a little rank going into the first turn. I think it was a complete throw-out race. I'll take the blame for that."

The Sept. 4 Kentucky Oaks is still penciled in for a "blinkers-off" Tonalist's Shape, who is seventh on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 70 points.

"I'm not going to let that race distract us. If all is well, we're going to stay on plan. She's earned a spot in the Oaks. If she stays the course, we'll probably give her a chance there. We'll see how she does," Joseph said. "We'll talk it over with the owners, but I don't see any reason not to continue onwards."