Authentic Retired to Spendthrift

[Wandering Eyes]

Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic (Into MIschief–Flawless, by Mr. Greeley) has been retired to Spendthrift Farm, where he will stand for a fee of $75,000 S&N, the farm announced Monday morning, two days after his Classic win. He arrived at Spendthrift at around 10 a.m., led off the van by his trainer Bob Baffert, who proclaimed, “There he is. The best horse in America.”

“Authentic is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of horse, and Mr. Hughes is very proud that we are able to share him with 5,300-plus MyRacehorse owners through what has been an incredible run,” said Ned Toffey, General Manager of Spendthrift. “That alone made this decision different and very difficult. Ultimately, we just felt there wasn’t a lot more to accomplish for a Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, so we have made the decision to retire Authentic to stand alongside his champion sire Into Mischief. We believe in the sire line and feel Authentic is a big part of its future. It is very rare that you come across a 3-year-old as well-bred, talented and accomplished as Authentic. We cannot wait to see his contributions to the breed, and we’re thrilled to continue his journey with all of the 5,300 MyRacehorse owners from the racetrack to the breeding shed.”

Trained by Bob Baffert, Authentic punctuated a likely championship 3-year-old and potentially Horse of the Year campaign with a decisive 2 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s $6,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland under jockey John Velazquez, defeating six Grade I winners 1:59.19, the fastest Classic time since Ghostzapper in 2004.

By leading general sire Into Mischief, Authentic became his sire’s most accomplished horse to date, moving his earnings to $6,191,200 with his sixth win from eight starts. Along with the Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, Authentic scored victories in the GI TVG.com Haskell S., GII San Felipe S. and GIII Sham S., and was runner-up in the GI Preakness S. and GI Santa Anita Derby in his lone defeats in 2020. Authentic was a winner in his only start at two at Del Mar nearly a year ago to the date.

Bred in Kentucky by Peter Blum, Authentic is out of the Mr. Greeley mare Flawless, a ‘TDN Rising Star’ who was a $4.1 million RNA at Sunday night’s Fasig-Tipton November Sale. Authentic was campaigned by Spendthrift, MyRacehorse, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables.

Due to gathering restrictions brought on by COVID-19, Authentic will be available for inspection by appointment only. For more information, please contact Des, Mark or Brian at 859-294-0030, or visit SpendthriftFarm.com.

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