Kentucky Derby 2020 Odds: Authentic

Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Authentic

By Ed McNamara

A need-the-lead type, Authentic is one very fast but immature colt.

Authentic San Felipe Stakes

Authentic – Photo Courtesy of Santa Anita Park

He had gate problems in two of his five races, and almost blew the Haskell (G1) after loafing when clear by daylight at the eighth pole. But then again, he’s trained by five-time Derby winner and nine-time Haskell winner Bob Baffert.

Authentic gives the impression that the 1 1/4 miles of the Derby might be too far. He should be in front for as long as he lasts, but with plenty of other speed in the field, he’s likely to be weakening in mid-stretch.

If he’s 5-1 or thereabouts, he’s worth a bet, but I wouldn’t take a shorter price on a probable pace casualty.

Profiles will be updated with morning-line odds and post position after the field is drawn on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

Odds: TBD

Post position: TBD

Jockey: John Velazquez

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Owners: SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Frederick Hertrich III

Career record: 5-4-1-0

Career earnings: $1,011,200

Top Equibase speed figure: 113

Kentucky Derby points: 200 (2nd)

Pedigree: Into Mischief-Flawless, by Mr. Greeley

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Front-runner

Notes: Baffert comes into this Derby with two chances (Thousand Words is the other) to win a record-equaling sixth Run for the Roses, which would match Ben “Plain Ben” Jones. Baffert’s winners are Silver Charm (1997, Real Quiet 1998), War Emblem (2002), American Pharoah (2015), and Justify (2018) … Coming into this Derby, he’s sent out 32 starters, third most of any trainer (Todd Pletcher is first at 54, D. Wayne Lukas second at 39) … Velazquez picks up the mount after Mike Smith – he’s riding Honor A.P. — was aboard for the narrow Haskell win … Johnny V will be riding in his 22nd Derby, and has won it twice, with Animal Kingdom in 2011 and Always Dreaming in 2017 … This will be his 14th consecutive Derby – he rode runner-up Code of Honor in 2019 (elevated from third to second after Maximum Security was DQ’d from first to 17th)

2020 Kentucky Derby

Horse Trainers Jockey
Tiz the Law Barclay Tagg Manny Franco
Authentic Bob Baffert John Velazquez
Art Collector Tom Drury Brian Hernandez, Jr.
Honor A.P. John Sherriffs Mike Smith
Ny Traffic Saffie Joseph, Jr Paco Lopez
King Guillermo Juan Carlos Avilla Samy Camacho
Thousand Words Bob Baffert Florent Geroux
Dr Post Todd Pletcher TBD
Max Player Steve Asmussen Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Caracaro Gustavo Delgado Javier Castellano
Enforceable Mark Casse Adam Beschizza
Rushie Michael McCarthy TBD
Major Fed Greg Foley James Graham
Storm the Court Peter Eurton Julien Leparoux
Attachment Rate Dale Romans Joe Talamo
Sole Volante Patrick Biancone Luca Panici
Finnick the Fierce Rey Hernandez Martin Garcia
Winning Impression Dallas Stewart Joe Rocco, Jr.
Necker Island Chris Hartman Miguel Mena
Shirl’s Speight Roger Attfield Corey Lanerie