BOB BAFFERT HAS A HOT PROSPECT IN AUTHENTIC

The Kentucky Derby version 2020 is not for another four months and already Bob Baffert has another hot prospect in AUTHENTIC who impressed a lot when winning the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita. Although the opposition was not up to much, the nature of the eight length win was the most stunning to observers. Coming off a maiden win at Del Mar in November, Authentic led throughout the two turn race, and spent the final furlong virtually racing sideways as something or somebody in the stands garnished his full attention.

Jockey Drayden Van Dyke did all he could to keep a straight course but it hardly mattered in the end result. After the race both jockey and trainer thought it was the noise from the crowd that might have distracted him, so a decision on blinkers next time out might have to wait. Even thought the time for the one mile race was extremely slow, this leggy horse looks like a real contender.

Authentic is a son of leading sire INTO MISCHIEF who now stands for a whopping $175,000. Authentic who is out of the mare Flawless cost $350,000 as a yearling at the Keeneland Sales in 2018, and the next target on a well travelled route will be the San Felipe Stakes on March 7^th.

Meanwhile in Florida in the Mucho Mucho Macho Man Stakes, the favorite CHANCE IT ensued by a nose over As Seen On Tv following a stretch run that could have gone either way. The 3-5 favorite also had to survive a trainer’s objection from Kelly Breen, and he improved his record to four wins and two seconds from six starts, all at Gulfstream Park. In the race the lead must have changed at least half a dozen times, So if anything, the son of the Florida sire Currency Swap certainly can’t be faulted on his guts. Trainer of the horse is Saffie Joseph Jr, and he went to bed last night dreaming of potential Kentucky glory.