The Bob Baffert trained Authentic held off favorite Tiz the Law to win the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby. (Photo credit: Churchill Downs / Coady Photography).
Authentic took the field gate to wire to win the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on Saturday, holding off Tiz the Law by 1 ¼ lengths.
The victory gave Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert his sixth win in the Run for the Roses, tying him for first on the all-time list along with Ben Jones, who won his six with just 11 starters from 1938 to 1952.
For Baffert it was his third Kentucky Derby win in the last six years, starting with American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018, both of those colts going on to win the Triple Crown.
Authentic was sent off at 8-1 while his stablemate Thousand Words was a late scratch after flipping in the paddock. Baffert’s assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes broke his arm during the incident.
“Unbelievable. I’m worried about Jimmy (Barnes)., “a happy Baffert said after the race. He broke his arm, what happened. All I can say is this horse ran out of his mind. Johnny V. –perfect ride. I owe it all to my crew. Jimmy, poor guy is in an ambulance right now, can’t enjoy it. This is so emotional the ups and downs in this game. Unbelievable.”
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez won his third Derby following Animal Kingdom (2011) and Always Dreaming (2017).
Authentic Wins Kentucky Derby
It was disappointing end for Sackatoga Stable and Tagg, who had to settle for second with Tiz the Law as the 4-5 betting favorite in the field of 15.
“Obviously we’d hoped to win. He was a big morning line favorite, went off odds-on. But it just wasn’t to be,” said Jack Knowlton, managing partner Sackatoga Stable. “Authentic ran a tremendous race. It was a fast pace, and he never came back. Tiz has been able to pass horses all year and today he ran into one he couldn’t get by.”
The winner paid $18.80 and the $2 exacta returned $41.00. Longshot Mr. Big News rallied for third at 46-1 and Honor A.P., the second choice in the field at 7-1 checked in fourth. The $1 trifecta paid $1,311.80 and the $0.10 superfecta paid $792.58.
There were protests throughout Louisville for racial injustice and in the name of Breonna Taylor, the black women who was shot and killed by police while serving a no knock warrant.
There were reports that protesters clashed with white militia groups at nearby by Jefferson Square Park but the day remained mostly peaceful amid a large police presence in the area.
NFAC (Black militia) outside Churchill Downs minutes before start of #KentuckyDerby2020 pic.twitter.com/kXROpZ2Nzs
— Gabe Gutierrez (@gabegutierrez) September 5, 2020
Not F***ing Around Coalition (NFAC), an armed Black militia gathered outside of Churchill Downs shortly before the race. Most of the groups dispersed shortly after.
WLKY reported there were three arrests made but none related to the protest groups.
Bell Is Indeed The One
Lothenbach Stables’ Bell’s the One got her nose down on the wire just ahead of Serengeti Empress to win the 34th running of the $500,000 Derby City Distaff Presented by Derby City Gaming (GI) for fillies and mares.
Trained by Neil Pessin and ridden by Corey Lanerie, Bell’s the One covered the seven furlongs on a fast main track in 1:21.07. The victory marked the first Grade I victory for Bell’s the One and Pessin.
Under Tyler Gaffalione, Serengeti Empress rocketed through fractions of :21.95 and :43.77 with Bellafina and Ce Ce in close pursuit as Bell’s the One lagged far back. On the far turn, Bell’s the One began to move closer and at the head of the lane swung six wide while Serengeti Empress opened a daylight advantage over Ce Ce.
Serengeti Empress put away Ce Ce at the sixteenth pole but was quickly joined by Bell’s the One who won the race to the finish line.
A 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Majesticperfection out of the Street Cry (IRE) mare Street Mate, Bell’s the One increased her bankroll to $790,040 with Saturday’s $303,800 check and improved her record to 14-7-2-1.
Bell’s the One paid $10.40, $4.20 and $3.20. Serengeti Empress, the 2019 Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner, returned $3.80 and $3 and finished three lengths in front of Sally’s Curlin who paid $4.20 to show under Brian Hernandez Jr.
Derby City Distaff Replay
Beau Recall Upsets Longines Distaff Turf Mile
Slam Dunk Racing and Medallion Racing’s Beau Recall (IRE) roared past 1-2 favorite Newspaperofrecord (IRE) at the sixteenth pole and drew off to a 1 ½-length repeat victory in the $500,000 Longines Distaff Turf Mile (GII) for fillies and mares.
Ridden by Manny Franco and trained by Brad Cox, Beau Recall covered the mile on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:35.39 in the 35th running of the race and successfully defend her title.
Newspaperofrecord, who won the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (GI) here, raced unopposed through fractions of :23.99, :47.93 and 1:11.82 and maintained a daylight advantage into the stretch that vanished at the sixteenth pole.
Beau Recall is a 6-year-old Irish-bred daughter of Sir Prancealot out of the Great Commotion mare Greta d’Argent. The victory was worth $306,900 and improved her earnings to $1,411,412 with a record of 29-8-8-0.
Beau Recall rewarded her backers with payoffs of $18.80, $5 and $3.60. Newspaperofrecord, ridden by Javier Castellano, returned $2.80 and $2.60 and finished a length in front of La Signare (FR) who paid $4.60 to show under Ricardo Santana Jr.
It was 2 ½ lengths back to Juliet Foxtrot (GB) with Daddy Is a Legend and Belle Laura following in order.
Distaff Turf Mile Replay
Digital Age Takes Old Forester
Klaravich Stables’ Digital Age (IRE) collared pace-setting Factor This in deep stretch to score a three-quarter length victory to win the 34th running of the $1 million Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI) for 4-year-olds and up.
Trained by Chad Brown and ridden by Javier Castellano, Digital Age covered the 1 1/8 miles on a firm Matt Winn Turf Course in 1:47.79.
Factor This led the field of 10 through fractions of :23.24, :47.17 and 1:11.16 as Digital Age raced next to last. On the far turn, Castellano began picking off horses, first along the inside, before swinging six wide at the top of the stretch and getting clear running room.
A 4-year-old Irish-bred son of Invincible Spirit out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Willow View, Digital Age notched his second graded stakes victory with the initial score in last year’s American Turf (GII) here on Derby Day. The victory was worth $589,000 and increased Digital Age’s earnings to $1,234,660 with a record of 11-5-2-0.
Digital Age returned $19.20, $9 and $6.20. Factor This, ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan, returned $6.20 and $4.20 and finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of Rockemperor (IRE) who paid $4.60 to show under John Velazquez.
It was another 1 ¾ lengths back to Sacred Life (FR) who was followed in order by Dontblamerocket, Spectacular Gem, True Valour (IRE), Mr Dumas, Somelikeithotbrown and Bowies Hero.
Old Forester Replay
