Today's Edition:  Record-Setting $1.4M Justify Filly Leads The Way at OBS · Baeza Set for Summer Showdown · Royal Ascot Coverage 2

Authentic

Derby Up Next for Authentic

Authentic (Into Mischief) exited his win in Saturday's GI TVG.com Haskell S. at Monmouth Park in fine shape and will now train up to the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Sunday. The colt pulled away to a clear advantage in the stretch of the Haskell before holding on to a last-gasp victory over Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic). "We're going to work on him a little until then [the Derby]," Baffert said. "I was pretty proud of him. He ran well. I might have to put a...

[ Read More ]
Monmouth Posts Record Handle on Haskell Day

Monmouth Park set a track record for handle for a non-Breeders' Cup day when bettors wagered a total of $20,479,392 on Saturday's 14-race GI TVG.com Haskell S. day card. The record handle was achieved despite restrictions for on-track attendance due to COVID-19 guidelines. The overall handle from all sources surpassed the previous non-Breeders' Cup record of $20,024,509 set on Haskell Day on Aug. 2, 2015. It is only the second $20-million handle for a non-Breeders' Cup program in Monmouth Park's 75-year history. Authentic (Into Mischief)'s nose victory over Ny Traffic...

[ Read More ]
Authentic Hangs on to Give Baffert Ninth Haskell

Heavily favored Authentic (Into Mischief) got surprisingly loose early and held on narrowly late in Saturday's GI TVG.com Haskell S., upping trainer Bob Baffert's record win total in the prestigious event to nine and earning an automatic spot in the starting gate for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic. Off at 3-5 looking to atone for a second-place finish at 1-2 behind Honor A. P. (Honor Code) in the GI Santa Anita Derby last month, the bay broke on top and received only token pressure from Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic)...

[ Read More ]
Brisnet.com Triple Crown Throwdown: Haskell

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - Peter Pan Result - Country Grammer got the money in game fashion. Bankroll: $4960. GI Haskell S. - Going to take a chance here with Jesus' Team, who is right in the mix with all other...

[ Read More ]
This Side Up: Haskell Sets Derby Compass as East Meets West

Guys. Come on. What was the one thing we were told, right from the outset? Wash your hands. Obsessively, wash your hands. Yet here's our most accomplished trainer, explaining that his assistant transferred a trace from a medicinal patch on his own back to the tongue-ties of their two most charismatic sophomores. Somebody seems to have been no more vigilant in the jocks' room at Los Alamitos, creating a fresh headache for Bob Baffert in the postponement of a barn debut, scheduled for Del Mar this weekend, for Maximum Security...

[ Read More ]
Authentic, Dr Post Among Haskell Probables

Dr Post (Quality Road), runner-up in the June 20 GI Belmont S., and June 6 GI Santa Anita Derby runner-up Authentic (Into Mischief) are among nine 3-year-olds possible for the July 18 GI Haskell S. at Monmouth Park, with an additional two sophomore runners possible, according to director of racing and racing secretary John Heims and stakes coordinator Lynn T. Ott. This year's edition of the nine-furlong race provides points toward the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby in addition to serving as a "Win and You're In" reward for the...

[ Read More ]
MyRacehorse.com Buys into Authentic

If you've got a dream and $206 you, too, can own a piece of a contender for the GI Kentucky Derby. MyRacehorse.com has purchased a 12.5% interest in GI Santa Anita Derby runner-up Authentic (Into Mischief) and will soon begin the process of selling micro shares in the horse to clients. The transaction includes buying into the horse's stallion career, which is a first for the racing partnership that specializes in selling very small shares in horses for a few hundred dollars or less. Launched by CEO and Founder Michael...

[ Read More ]
Brisnet.com Triple Crown Throwdown: Santa Anita Derby

Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN's Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins. DeRosa - Matt Winn Results - Ny Traffic was second best. Bankroll: $2765. GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby - I picked Honor A. P. in the San Felipe and see no reason to get off him here with...

[ Read More ]
This Side Up: Man of Honor Out to Catch a Rising Tide

In a landscape where so many fixed points have suddenly melted into a mirage--Saturday, remember, was supposed to be the final leg of the Triple Crown--trainers are perhaps better qualified than most to navigate a way forward. For the unchanging cycles of the backstretch, feeding horses and breezing them and hosing them down and walking the shedrow, must be constantly adapted to the flesh-and-blood unpredictability of the Thoroughbred. In normal times, at least, races are like the high tide: consult the handbook, and you'll know post-time to the minute. Then...

[ Read More ]
Santa Anita Derby Showdown

West Coast heavyweights Authentic (Into Mischief) and Honor A.P. (Honor Code) meet for round two in a highly anticipated renewal of Saturday's GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Authentic made it a perfect three-for-three for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, posting a powerful 2 1/4-length wire-to-wire decision over Honor A.P. in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 7. He previously aired by 7 3/4 lengths over stablemate Azul Coast (Super Saver), a next out winner of the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Feb. 15, in the GIII Sham S....

[ Read More ]
Spendthrift Acquires Majority Interest in Authentic

B. Wayne Hughes's Spendthrift Farm has acquired a majority ownership interest in 3-year-old colt Authentic (Into Mischief--Flawless, by Mr. Greeley), the undefeated GI Kentucky Derby contender who is set to go postward as the likely favorite in Saturday's GI Santa Anita Derby. Spendthrift joins forces with Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables, which have both retained an ownership interest in the undefeated colt. SF Racing, Fred Hertrich, John Fielding and Golconda Stables--all part of the original ownership group--have sold their respective interests in Authentic. "We are very excited to join an...

[ Read More ]
Authentic's Flawless Start Rings True to Blum

Authentic has already carved one significant milestone for his sire, his debut success at Del Mar last November having qualified Into Mischief as the first North American stallion to accumulate 200 individual winners in a calendar year. If he can also become a Classic winner, however, he will need a chapter to himself in the Spendthrift phenomenon's epic tale. Because the rise of Into Mischief, sealed by a first general sires' championship in 2019, has primarily been powered by speed. As his books have gained in quality, the last big...

[ Read More ]