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…
When the balance of power shifts anywhere, one side or another usually makes a move to regain equilibrium. It’s the way of the world, the yin and the yang of natural order. In Avengers, a film based on Stan Lee characters from Marvel Comics, a guy named Nick Fury, head of S.H.I.E.L.D., acts to save the earth from an outside threat by recruiting a bunch of superheroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor. There’s a self-named version of…
The man of the hour, Bob Baffert, who won both halves of the Arkansas Derby and who arguably has the 1-2-3 top Derby choices, joins the TDN Writers’ Room.
Once upon a time, Bob Baffert was a Quarter Horse jockey. It was his success (or lack thereof) in that profession that led to his current career path as a Hall of Fame Thoroughbred trainer. Figuring that the fires still may burn within the 67-year-old Arizona native to ride fast horses, we asked the question that many in racing would like to know: Which of his three undefeated 3-year-olds – Grade 2 San Felipe winner Authentic or Saturday’s winners of…
Reached by phone Sunday, a day after sweeping divisions of the Arkansas Derby (G1) with a pair of unbeaten colts, trainer Bob Baffert said he was “trying to get the next batch ready.” That means Authentic, who remained perfect by exiting a victory in the March 7 San Felipe Stakes (G2). Baffert backed off the son of Into Mischief once the Santa Anita Derby (G1), originally scheduled for April 4, was postponed. A new Santa Anita Park stakes schedule released last week slots…
Saturday was supposed to be the day Authentic and Honor A. P. took their places in the starting gate at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby. Instead, the highly-promising 3-year-old colts worked at Santa Anita over the weekend in preparation for the rescheduled Santa Anita Derby on June 6. Honor A. P. worked five furlongs in 1:00 on Saturday, a day before Authentic went the same distance in 1:00.40…
Instead of “My Old Kentucky Home,” the new theme song for GI Kentucky Derby aspirants is now “Time Is On My Side” by the Rolling Stones. This week’s rankings represent a reshuffling of the pecking order in light of the Derby’s new Sept. 5 race date…
All Other 3-Year-Olds field again closed as 3-1 favorite. With the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) pushed back to Sept. 5, up-and-comer Charlatan, who has won his two starts by a combined 16 lengths, and Curlin Florida Derby (G1) winner Tiz the Law closed at 5-1 as co-second choices in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Charlatan attracted $17,364 in Win bets, just $89 more…
Co-owner Jack Wolf trying to stay positive with Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful. There was a time in the winter when Jack Wolf expected this weekend to be a busy and memorable time. Wolf and his wife, Laurie, planned to travel west with their young son, Jake. A big part of it involved seeing their daughter, Elinor, play her senior weekend games for the University of Colorado women’s lacrosse team…
