The first foals by Spendthrift Farm's Horse of the Year Authentic have begun to arrive, and to celebrate, Spendthrift is hosting a “Foal Derby” to share photos of the stallion's debut crop and reward breeders and fans with prizes.
Each week leading up to the Kentucky Derby, a group of Authentic's foals will be displayed on Spendthrift Farm's social media channels. The two foals with the most likes and shares will face off in the finals each Friday to decide the favorite. Both finalists will then be among 20 horses eligible to win the grand prizes, based on the results of this year's Kentucky Derby. Voters will also be eligible for weekly prizes.
To learn more about the rules and prizes for both breeders and voters, click here.
Authentic, a 5-year-old son of Into Mischief, stands at Spendthrift Farm for an advertised fee of $70,000. He was named Horse of the Year in 2020, following a campaign that saw him earn Grade 1 victories in the Kentucky Derby, Breeders' Cup Classic, and Haskell Stakes.
The second group of finalists, as voted on by the fans, pits a pair of new foals backed by strong pedigrees. Voting for this week's finals remains open through the end of Friday.
Click here to vote on the Week 2 finalists. Voting is also available on Spendthrift's Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Let's take a look at this week's finalists…
Foal: Filly o/o Champagne Humor
Bred by: Brandywine Farm
Click here to cast your vote on Facebook.
The second foal out of the multiple stakes-placed Distorted Humor mare Champagne Humor. Second dam Champagne Ice is a full-sister to 2011 Belmont Stakes winner Ruler on Ice and a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Champagne d'Oro.
“You couldn't ask for a nicer foal,” said Brandywine Farm's Pam Robinson. “She's very athletic. You can see from the picture she's got length of leg, and she's precocious. She's fancy, and she knows it. The good ones always seem to know it.
“Authentic was Horse of the Year, and athletic,” Robinson continued. “He was my number-one pick for this year, and this is my future number-one star, I hope.”
Foal: Colt o/o Mimi's Tiz
Bred by: Loren Nichols
Click here to cast your vote on Facebook.
The fourth foal out of the unraced Tiznow mare Mimi's Tiz, whose two foals to race are both winners, including the Into Mischief colt So Determined, who was a winner at two last year. Grade 3 winner and notable sire Custom For Carlos is in his extended family.
“I sold his half-brother by Into Mischief last year for $875,000, and that's a good reason to stay with that line,” said breeder Loren Nichols. “I think they look alike. They look like they're full-brothers instead of half-brothers: a lot of leg, long necks, just beautiful foals.
“Into Mischief just sort of got out of my price range, and Authentic is just beautiful,” he continued. “He's got a lot of leg, and just has what my mares need. I had three mares booked to him last year, and I've already got this mare bred back to him, and a couple more.”
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