Bob Baffert was hit by the double whammy of Nadal’s retirement and, just days later, Charlatan’s injury, subtracting both of them out of the 2020 Kentucky Derby picture. But the Hall of Fame trainer’s Derby dream hasn’t died. He has two well-bred, expensive backup plans emerging from the stable and likely headed toward stakes company. Let’s see if they’re made for the Triple Crown series…
It’s the first week in June, a time when Thoroughbred racing usually finds out if there’s a Triple Crown champion to celebrate and anoint. Until COVID-19 became a part of everyday life. Yet even a pandemic could not derail the Triple Crown, though it surely led to some more stops along the way before the sport arrives at the first Saturday in September, when the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) will be contested at Churchill Downs…
B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm has acquired a majority ownership interest in the undefeated 3-year-old colt Authentic, the likely favorite for the June 6 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1). Spendthrift now partners with Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables, which have both retained an ownership interest in the son of Into Mischief , North America’s reigning champion general sire who stands at Spendthrift…
Charlatan worked five furlongs Monday morning in 1:00.80 at Santa Anita Park, but it will still be a week more before Bob Baffert makes the call on his next race spot. Baffert initially began considering Charlatan for the June 20 Woody Stephens (G1) when he still had another unbeaten 3-year-old, Nadal on target for the Belmont Stakes that same day in New York…
Each week members of the media around the country vote on the nation’s top contenders on the Triple Crown trail in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Find out the latest 2020 top 3-year-old rankings below…
Undefeated Authentic had his final major breeze May 31 ahead of the June 6 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita Park. The 3-year-old son of Into Mischief worked six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 over the main track at the Southern California track under regular rider Drayden Van Dyke for trainer Bob Baffert…
Preview: Starlight Racing managing partner Jack Wolf discusses Charlatan and Authentic, the partnership’s two Kentucky Derby prospects trained by Bob Baffert, looks back on their historic Triple Crown win with Justify and more.
SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and Fred Hertrich III’s BEACON HILL (Blame) debuts for trainer Rodolphe Brisset. The dark bay, who realized a $500,000 final bid at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling sale, was the highest priced yearling out of 27 sold by his sire in 2018…
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…
Authentic, Charlatan and Nadal: with apologies to Alexandre Dumas, call them The Three Bafferteers. Each horse is trained by two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert, each horse is undefeated, and each horse has never even been in a photo finish in a combined 10 career starts. They have swash-buckled their way across the track, outdueling their foes while compiling $1,751,400 in earnings, and are among the top 10 in Kentucky Derby qualifying points, Nadal leading with 150, Charlatan fourth with…
