Bob Baffert does it again as Authentic beats Tiz the Law to win Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After a fourmonth delay and controversy along the way, not even the great Tiz the Law could stop Bob Baffert from doing what Bob Baffert does, that is win yet another Kentucky Derby.

Before an empty grandstand inside Churchill Downs and civil unrest outside, 8-1 shot Authentic held off 4-5 favorite Tiz the Law in a thrilling stretch duel to win the 146th running of the $3 million Grade 1 race, giving Baffert his sixth Kentucky Derby victory.

The triumph tied the 67-yearold Baffert with legendary Calumet Farm trainer Ben Jones for the most wins in Derby history. Owned by Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing, Authentic paid $18.80, $6.00 and $5.00. The winning time was 2:00.61.

It was a happy ending to a day in which, approximately 20 minutes before the race, Baffert’s other Derby entry, the excitable Thousand Words, flipped in the paddock, rearing up and knocking over assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes before landing on his side. Immediately scratched from the race, Thousand Words was unhurt, but Barnes suffered a broken arm. As a bookend, the skittish Authentic, who runs with earplugs, acted up in the winner’s circle, knocking over Baffert, who said he was no worse for wear.

“I had many emotions,” said an emotional Baffert afterward. “It has been a roller coaster year.”

It was the third Kentucky Derby victory for 48-year-old jockey John Velazquez, who was riding Authentic for the first time. The New Yorkbased Velazquez had won previously on Animal Kingdom in 2011 for trainer Graham Motion and Always Dreaming in 2017 for Todd Pletcher. Breaking from the outside post position, Velazquez gave Authentic the perfect ride he needed to best Tiz the Law, the heavy favorite after going 4 for 4 in 2020 with wins in three Grade 1 races — the Florida Derby, the Belmont Stakes and the Travers.

“That was won by Johnny,” Baffert said. “The way he handled the horse. He’s had some rocking-horse races, but he earned this one.”

Authentic had won his first three lifetime starts before breaking wide from the outside and finishing second to Honor A. P. in the Santa Anita Derby on June 6. Baffert shipped the colt to New Jersey, where he won the Haskell Stakes under jockey Mike Smith. When Smith opted to stick with Honor A. P. for the Derby, Baffert turned to Velazquez.

Despite his Haskell win, there were questions whether the son of Into Mischief could get the 1 1/4- mile distance after he wavered in the stretch of the 1 1/8-mile Haskell. That wasn’t a problem Saturday. When Tiz the Law pulled even in the stretch, Authentic found another gear to pull away for the 1 1/4-length victory. It was another 2 lengths back to surprise third-place finisher Mr. Big News.

It was a tough defeat for Tiz the Law, who had done everything right all year. Owner Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable and trainer Barclay Tagg were hoping for their second Kentucky Derby win together after triumphing in 2003 with the gelding Funny Cide.

Said Tagg afterward, “Baffert’s hard to beat.”

“I can’t believe I’m sitting up here,” said Baffert in the post-race press conference. “I really thought Tiz the Law was unbeatable.”

Now 6 of 8 lifetime, both of Tiz the Law’s losses have come at Churchill Downs. The New York-bred finished third on a sloppy Churchill track in the Kentucky Jockey Club last November.

Moved from its traditional first-Saturday-in-May date (May 2) to the first Saturday in September (Sept. 5) in hopes that the coronavirus pandemic would subside to the point where fans would be allowed to attend, Churchill was instead forced to stage the sport’s premiere event without fans for the first time in its hallowed history.

The race was also run with the backdrop of the city’s dedicated protesters over the death of Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Black woman shot and killed March 13 by Louisville police serving a no-knock warrant. Planned Derby day protests took place outside Churchill Downs on Saturday after calls during the week for the Black owners of Necker Island to boycott the race.

Meanwhile, Baffert lost two of his best prospects along the Derby trail when Grade 1 winners Nadal and Charlatan were both injured. The trainer was also suspended for 15 days for a drug violation at Oaklawn Park when Charlatan and the filly Gamine tested positive for lidocaine, which Baffert attributed to a pain patch Barnes was wearing.

During the week at Churchill, King Guillermo and Finnick the Fierce scratched the week of the race. Then came Thousand Words’ panic in the paddock, reducing the field to 15. Second-choice Honor A. P., compromised when he was bumped by Ny Traffic at the start, was never a factor.

Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), War Emblem (2002), American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018) were Baffert’s previous Derby victories. American Pharoah and Justify each captured the Triple Crown. There will be no Triple Crown winner this year, however. Tiz the Law had already won the Belmont Stakes on June 20, making it the first leg in this crazy year.

Still, even as the second leg, the Kentucky Derby is horse racing’s biggest race. And now no one is better at winning that race than Bob Baffert.

Said Jack Knowlton, “Bob’s got the magic touch.”