On Huge Day for Baffert, Authentic is “Sensational”

[Wandering Eyes]

No, you did not wake up from a nightmare only to discover there is no such thing as the coronavirus and that nothing has changed in the world of horse racing. There was no GI Santa Anita Derby or GII Blue Grass S. or GII Wood Memorial Saturday. But what if there were? Bill Finley gives us a look on how the day might have gone.

For Bob Baffert, it was a week that began with a big dose of bad news. Charlatan (Speightstown), who had been so impressive in his two career races that he was drawing comparisons to Triple Crown winner Justify (Scat Daddy), came down with a bruised hoof and will miss the GI Kentucky Derby. For most any other stable, that would have been a devastating blow, but Baffert doesn’t regroup, he reloads. That’s how deep the 3-year-old talent is in his barn.

But there can be only one No. 1, and it is Authentic (Into Mischief).

He was that dominant in the GI Santa Derby Saturday, drawing off to win by 12 lengths over Honor A.P. (Honor Code) in what was arguably one of the most impressive wins in the race’s 71-year history.

“I don’t know what to say,” John Shirreffs, the trainer of runner-up Honor A.P. said. “I know we have a really good horse and we can’t beat Baffert’s horse. That tells me how good he is. That horse is sensational. We’ll just have to try again in the Derby and hope something changes.”

The winning margin was the largest in the races since Porter’s Cup won by 13 lengths in 1941. That was the last year before the Santa Anita Derby went on a four-year hiatus due to World War II. Seventy-nine years later, the Santa Anita Derby is unstoppable. It draws huge crowds (38,808 were on-track Saturday) and has become the kind of race you can always count on to be there and to feature a loaded group of candidates for the GI Kentucky Derby.

Baffert also has Nadal (Blame) ready to go in Saturday’s GI Arkansas Derby, where a good performance would make him one of at least three horses from his stable qualifying for the Derby. The other is Azul Coast (Super Saver), who won Saturday’s GII Wood Memorial. It was his second straight victory, and the last time he was beaten was in the GIII Sham S., where he finished 7 3/4 lengths behind Authentic.

At Keeneland, Silver Prospector (Declaration of War) bounced back from a poor showing in the GII Rebel S. to win the GII Blue Grass S. over Dennis’ Moment (Tiznow).

Baffert will head to Churchill Downs with an exceptionably strong team as he attempts to win his sixth Derby. Another victory would tie him with Ben Jones for most wins in the Derby by a trainer.

“That hit us pretty hard when Charlatan came down with that injury,” Baffert said. “But we’re fortunate to have several really good 3-year-olds this year. We always knew what kind of horse Authentic was and today’s race proved that. He is a really, really good colt who is getting better all the time. He showed his immaturity in the Sham. That’s not him anymore.”

Just a week ago, Baffert was uncertain which of his 3-year-olds would run where. He didn’t want to run any against one another, but was also reluctant to ship them across the country. The only thing that was certain, he said, was that Charlatan would run in the Santa Anita Derby. The Charlatan injury cleared the way for Authentic to run in the race instead. Azul Coast, considered no better than the fourth or fifth best colt in the Baffert barn, flew under the radar and landed at the Big A.

On a postcard perfect day at Santa Anita, the large and enthusiastic crowd packed the historic stands, relishing the sunshine, the 81 degree temperatures and a card loaded with stakes action. The crowd included Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts, who was able to make the Dodgers-Padres game because of the early start for the Santa Anita Derby. Perhaps the only thing in Southern California hotter than Baffert, Betts was hitting .445 coming into the day with 11 home runs for the first-place Dodgers.

The Santa Anita Derby drew just five horses and some handicappers were singing the praises of Honor A.P., but there was little doubt who the star was in this field. Authentic was coming off an easy win over Honor A.P. in the GII San Felipe S. and was sent off at 3-5.

The race unfolded much like the San Felipe did. Authentic broke a step slow, but jockey Drayden Van Dyke secured the lead quickly after the start. Authentic was two lengths in front after a half-mile in 46.51. Perhaps sensing that the race would get away from him if he didn’t go after Authentic sooner than he did in the San Felipe, jockey Mike Smith called on Honor A.P. and had him within a half-length of Authentic as the field headed into the far turn.

Van Dyke didn’t panic.

“I knew how much horse I had and I knew he was ready to explode,” the jockey said.

Honor A.P. tracked Authentic but only until Van Dyke let his horse run. Authentic took off at the top of the stretch and turned the Santa Anita Derby into a one-horse race.

It was Baffert’s 10th win in the Santa Anita Derby and his third straight.

For racing’s most visible trainer, the day also included a smashing debut win by Cezanne (Curlin), the colt who was purchased for $3.65 million at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-year-old sale. Sent off at 2-5, he coasted to a six-length win under Smith in a six-furlong maiden event.

“It was really nice that we could show this colt off today on such a big day,” Baffert said. “I don’t see him racing in any of the Triple Crown races, but he could be my (GI) Haskell or (GI) Travers horse. He’s really good. He’s going to make that $3.65 million price tag look like the bargain of the century.”

Azul Coast was an added bonus for the Baffert stable. After finishing second in the Sham, he won the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate, but was still an afterthought, overshadowed amid all the star power in the Baffert barn. In the Wood, he was facing a solid group of opponents, headlined by GIII Gotham S. winner Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief) and GIII Withers S. winner Max Player (Honor Code). Sent off as the 3-1 second choice, Azul Coast was third early under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and kept grinding away through the stretch before putting his head in front of Mischevious Alex a few jumps before the wire.

“I’m really glad he got a big win. The horse deserved it,” Baffert said. “Going into today, we were more thinking (GI) Preakness than Derby, but not now. I think this horse could surprise some people at Churchill.”

The Blue Grass turned into the Redemption Derby. Silver Prospector was beaten 12 lengths in the Rebel and Dennis’ Moment was beaten 25 1/4 lengths in the GII Fountain of Youth S. Both horses earned their way into the Derby as Silver Prospector won by 1 1/2 lengths. Favorite Sole Volante (Karakontie {Jpn}) was fifth.

“We knew all along that this horse is much better than what he showed in the Rebel,” winning trainer Steve Asmussen said. “I don’t why he didn’t run better last time. But the real horse showed up today and we will go into the Derby with a lot of confidence.”

Dale Romans, the trainer of Dennis’ Moment, was every bit as pleased.

“Just like I expected, this horse just didn’t like the track at Gulfstream,” he said. “Sure, we would have loved to win the Blue Grass, but, at least now, we know he’s back and ready to put in a big effort in the Derby.”

But can they beat Baffert? Can anybody beat him? It looks like the answers are no and no. We will find out in four weeks.

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