Authentic is a bay colt with a white blaze bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds.
He was from the tenth crop of foals sired by Into Mischief, who won the Los Alamitos Futurity and went on to become a highly successful breeding stallion.
Into Mischief is best known as a sire of sprinters, including Goldencents, Practical Joke and Eclipse Award winner Covfefe.
[3] In September 2018 when he was a yearling, Authentic was consigned to the Keeneland Sales and was bought for $350,000 by representatives of SF Bloodstock and Starlight West.
[7][8] Authentic made his first start on November 9, 2019, in a maiden special weight race over 5+1⁄2 furlongs at Del Mar Racetrack.
"[9] After being successful in his last two starts, Authentic faced real competition for the first time in the San Felipe Stakes, also at Santa Anita Park, on March 7.
The field included Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Storm the Court, another undefeated Baffert colt named Thousand Words, and highly regarded Honor A.P., coming into the race after a five-month layoff.
started his move on the far turn, but it was too late as Authentic maintained his advantage down the stretch and won easily by 2+1⁄4 lengths.
[11] The win gave Authentic 50 points on the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby, making him one of the leading contenders for the race that was originally scheduled to be run on May 2.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, racing at Santa Anita was temporarily shut down in late March and the Derby itself was rescheduled to September 5.
"[15] Authentic was then shipped across the country to Monmouth Park in New Jersey for the Haskell Invitational, run over a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles on July 18.
He got off to a good start and went straight to the lead, setting moderate fractions of 23.60 seconds for the first quarter mile and 47.52 for the half.
Authentic responded to urging from Smith and managed to hold off Ny Traffic by a nose in a photo finish.
Several other potential rivals missed the race due to injury, including Nadal (Arkansas Derby – div.
On the other hand, several late scratches from the field made it more likely that he could get an uncontested early lead, allowing him to save energy.
Velazquez urged Authentic to the lead, running the first quarter in a fast 22.92 seconds while being carried four wide around the first turn.
[20] Velazquez said he had not been concerned about the pre-race talk regarding Authentic's lack of stamina, noting instead how the colt had responded when asked to run at the head of the stretch.
In the paddock before the race, his other Kentucky Derby horse Thousand Words had to be scratched when he reared up and fell to the side.
Though Thousand Word suffered no damage, Baffert's assistant trainer, Jimmy Barnes, broke his arm.
Although his mixed feelings left him unable to fully enjoy the moment, it was a record-tying sixth Derby win for Baffert.
[21][22] After the Derby win, Authentic was brought to the Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness Stakes, which had been postponed to October 3.
In the backstretch, Authentic picked up the pace and took the lead by running the half mile in 47.65 while racing three wide.
Because Authentic ran wide around the final turn, the filly Swiss Skydiver was able to get through a hole on the rail and moved to the lead, running the first three-quarters in 1:11.24.
"[25] Authentic met older horses for the first time in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland, held on November 7.
[27] After Authentic got off to a good start, he went straight to the front on a fast track that appeared to favor early speed.
Authentic opened up a 2+1⁄2 length lead going down the backstretch and was able to relax while setting a solid pace.
[25][27][28] Authentic was the first horse since American Pharoah to win the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders' Cup Classic in the same year, and only the fourth in history (Unbridled and Sunday Silence being the others).
[25][29] In his eighteenth attempt, it was the first Breeders' Cup Classic win for Hall of Fame jockey Velazquez.
Authentic was retired after the Breeders' Cup Classic to stand at stud at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.