Attachment Rate, Authentic Post Final Derby Tuneups

Dale Romans has changed his appearance but not his method of preparing a horse toward the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Sporting a somewhat unruly gray beard, grown this year amid COVID-19, the 54-year-old trainer was at Churchill Downs Aug. 30 to observe his 3-year-old Attachment Rate complete his final workout in advance of the Sept. 5 Derby. The chestnut colt by Hard Spun  breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5, a stiff move from the half-mile pole to a furlong past the finish. Exercise rider Faustino Herrarte asked him over the final quarter-mile.

His move was one of two key drills by Kentucky Derby prospects Sunday, the other coming from Authentic, who went six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 for trainer Bob Baffert at Del Mar.

Attachment Rate's breeze, in which clockers timed him with splits of :12 3/5, :24 3/5, :37, and :48 4/5, was the lone local workout of Kentucky Derby hopefuls at Churchill Downs on Sunday. He was timed galloping out in six furlongs in 1:14 in preparation for the 1 1/4-mile test.

"I wanted him to ease up and finish strong. That's what he did," Romans said.

Attachment Rate 5F 1:01.20. Splits: 12.60, 24.60, 37, 48.80/1:14. #KyDerby pic.twitter.com/Fa6IXZeFoq

— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) August 30, 2020

Owned by Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister, Attachment Rate is a Derby longshot. At 1-for-8, he has yet to win a stakes race in five attempts, though he has been competitive. He finished second in his final pre-Derby start in the Aug. 9 Runhappy Ellis Park Derby, beaten 3 1/4 lengths by Art Collector, one of the principal challengers to Derby favorite Tiz the Law.

In two starts this spring and summer in Kentucky, the colt was fifth, beaten 8 1/2 lengths by Art Collector, in the July 11 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland and fourth in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) at Churchill May 23.

"He's sound, he's smart, he's peaking," Romans said. "I think he'll really like the mile and a quarter. We all know it's Tiz the Law's race to lose. If he stubs his toe, we'll be running him over."

Attachment Rate will be the 11th Derby starter for Romans, a native of Louisville who grew up treasuring his hometown classic. His best finishers were Paddy O'Prado and Dullahan—third in 2010 and 2012, respectively—and Shackleford, fourth in 2011. The latter returned to win the Preakness Stakes (G1) that year, giving Romans, the Eclipse Award-winning trainer of 2012, his sole victory in a Triple Crown race.

Last year was the first time since 2013 that Romans did not have a Derby starter.

Attachment Rate will be the first Derby entrant for his owners. The colt's jockey, Joe Talamo, has twice been in the race, riding Sidney's Candy to finish 17th in 2010 and War Story to run 16th in 2015.

Romans echoed the views of many in saying this year's Derby seems to be lacking its customary buzz. The backstretch is quiet, with only a fraction of the customary media on hand for pre-Derby workouts as a health restriction, and no fans will be in the stands for a Derby week that was postponed until Sept. 1-5 as a result of the pandemic.

Even the starting gate is unlikely to have its usual full field of 20. As of Aug. 29, Churchill Downs officials considered 18 horses as potential Derby starters—though one, Rushie, bowed out Sunday when trainer Michael McCarthy announced that his colt would instead run in the Pat Day Mile Stakes Presented by LG&E and KU (G2) on the Derby undercard.

Entries and post positions will be drawn Sept. 1. 

"It seems like it is more about winning the money than it is the pageantry of the Derby," Romans said of this year's race. "That may sound shallow, but that's the way it feels. I never thought about winning purse money in the Derby before. It was just about winning a Kentucky Derby. This just feels a little different, like a big race, but not THE big race.

"But we'll turn the page on 2020 soon and get back to normal."

Though Attachment Rate was the lone horse to breeze at Churchill on Sunday morning, other Derby prospects went to the track for lighter exercise. Art Collector jogged during the exclusive training period for Derby and Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) runners under regular jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., and Max Player was energetic in a gallop during an early morning training session. Max Player is slated to work Aug. 31.

Tiz the Law, who breezed at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 29, is expected to arrive at Churchill Downs Tuesday after traveling from New York.

Baffert was pleased with the breeze by Authentic, who is owned by Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing. The workout under exercise rider Juan Ochoa was the fastest of nine at the distance. 

In his final work before the #KentuckDerby, G. I Haskell Stakes winner Authentic Worked 6 Furlongs in 1:12.40 at Del Mar on August 30th, 2020, for trainer Bob Baffert.
Derby week is almost here so make sure to sign up and play with @1stbet ! pic.twitter.com/BPG5KBiC7p

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) August 30, 2020

The son of Into Mischief  has trained swiftly for Baffert since capturing the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park July 18. He and Thousand Words, the last-out winner of the Shared Belief Stakes, are his two Derby starters this year.

"Authentic is really doing well. I see him turning the corner," Baffert said. "Both of my horses, I think they’re live. We just need some luck. You never know what is going to happen with that many horses in there."

Besides the Derby, the Sept. 4 Oaks lost a possible starter Sunday when Bonny South was withdrawn from consideration, according to Churchill Downs vice president of racing Ben Huffman. Her defection leaves 10 possible starters for the 1 1/8-mile contest, headed by Gamine, Swiss Skydiver, and Speech. The race will be drawn Monday.