Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stable and Starlight Racing's Kentucky Derby (Grade I) winner Authentic finalized his major preparation for Saturday's $1 million Preakness Stakes (GI) with a half-mile move in :47.60 Monday morning at Churchill Downs.
With jockey Martin Garcia aboard, Authentic worked at 7:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) through splits of :12.20, :24 and :36. Authentic continued to gallop out around the turn and clocked five furlongs in 1:00. He completed his work with a six-furlong gallop out time of 1:13.40.
“He's such an amazing horse,” Garcia said following the work. “He worked awesome. I've worked a lot of nice horses for trainer Bob Baffert in California and this horse is just as special. He's doing amazing for the Preakness.”
Baffert was on hand in Louisville to watch Authentic's final move along with staff members from Spendthrift Farm.
“It looked like he went in :50,” Spendthrift Farm's sales manager Mark Toothaker said. “He is very smooth.”
Kentucky Derby winner Authentic 4F :47.60. Splits: 12.20 24. Out 5F 1:00, 6F 1:13.40. pic.twitter.com/aSFbcXuevW
— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) September 28, 2020
Authentic is scheduled to fly from Louisville to Baltimore on Tuesday along with a host of other local Preakness contenders. Among the other Preakness contenders based at Churchill Downs is George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds' Max Player. The Kentucky Derby fifth-place runner worked an easy half-mile in :49.80 Monday for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.
The post position draw for the Preakness is Monday at 12 p.m.
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