First-Crop Authentic Colt Lights Up Board at $1 Million

Randy Hartley and Dean DeRenzo of Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds kicked off the third and final session of the Ocala Breeders' March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training March 14 in the same fashion they concluded Day 2: selling a seven-figure horse.

Early in the sale's final session, Hartley/DeRenzo sold Hip 601, a colt from the first crop of 2020 Horse of the Year Authentic   out of the stakes-placed Smart Strike mare Ruby Trust , to Resolute Bloodstock (John Stewart) for $1 million. The transaction followed on the heels of the Ocala-based consignors selling a $1.5 million Not This Time   colt to Pro Racing Stable March 13.

The flashy Authentic colt, who was bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, caught the attention of prospective buyers with an eighth-mile breeze in :09 4/5 at last week's under tack preview. Before his impressive breeze, the chestnut colt caught the eye of Hartley and DeRenzo, who snapped him up for $260,000 on behalf of Tom Durant at last year's Keeneland September Sale.

"He is beautiful," said Hartley, standing near the colt who was calmly posing for the cameras outside Barn 5 at OBS shortly after changing hands in the ring. "We bought him in September for Tom. He is such a great guy. We couldn't be happier for him. He loves the game, and he puts so much into it. Like everyone, he has his ups and downs, but he always withstands the tides and keeps trucking forward.

"The colt has done everything spectacularly from day one," Hartley continued. "He looked about like he does now when we bought him. He is just a pretty horse, and people love Smart Strike mares. He is just so efficient in his movement. We knew he was going to do well. All the right people were on him. It was exciting. I am excited for Tom and our crew. He's a beautiful colt. We're excited."

Hartley/DeRenzo sold just five horses at the March sale, but their $4.7 million in receipts made them the third leading consignor.

Resolute Bloodstock's agent Gavin O'Connor said of the colt, "He is an absolutely stunning physical. His breeze was so fluid, and he looked fantastic going a fast time. The cross through Authentic with Into Mischief over Smart Strike and his overall physical would make him a standout in any stallion barn in Kentucky."

Resolute Bloodstock remained active throughout Thursday afternoon, acquiring Hip 637, a Gun Runner   filly from the de Meric Sales consignment for $200,000, and Hip 638, a Malibu Moon filly consigned by Woodside Ranch for $150,000. The Gun Runner filly is out of the Elusive Quality mare Secret Quality , and the Malibu Moon filly is produced from the unraced Seeking the Gold mare Seeking Atlantis and is a half sister to graded stakes-placed Seeking Her Glory  (by Giant's Causeway) and stakes-placed Castellani  (Quality Road).

With five purchases for $2,375,000, Resolute finished as third leading buyer by total sales.

In addition to the $1 million colt, Authentic has also been represented at OBS March by a $450,000 colt (Hip 849), purchased by Rodolphe Brisset, agent for Ann Harrison; a $310,000 colt (Hip 104), which sold to West Bloodstock, agent for Repole Stable; and a $160,000 filly, which was bought by Pedro Lanz, agent for KAS Stable.

Authentic, a son of Into Mischief  , certainly made his mark on the racetrack. The accomplished racehorse captured the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), and the Haskell Stakes (G1) in 2020 en route to Horse of the Year honors at season's end.

A $350,000 graduate of the 2018 Keeneland September Sale, Authentic was campaigned by Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing, and was trained by Bob Baffert. He was bred in Kentucky by Peter Blum Thoroughbreds, and he stands at Spendthrift Farm for $50,000.