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Authentic Goes All The Way, Tops Baffert Exacta In Breeders’ Cup Classic

Through all the shadows of controversy and the challenges of the pandemic, Authentic made a clear case for Horse of the Year honors in this Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic. The 3-year-old son of Into Mischief flew out of the gate and led the field all the way around the Keeneland oval to win the $6 million event by 2 1/4 lengths, delivering another major victory to his thousands of owners. The race had to be hand-timed when timers malfunctioned, but was later reported as another track record: 1:59.19.

That time bests the track record set by Triple Crown champion American Pharoah in the 2015 Classic of 2:00.07.

Fans may not have been able to attend this year's Breeders' Cup, but there was plenty of cheering from those on hand when Authentic crossed the wire in front.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert was especially thrilled to see Authentic avenge his last-out defeat in the Preakness, when the filly Swiss Skydiver bested him by a neck. It was Baffert's second Breeders' Cup win on the card, following Gamine in the Filly & Mare Sprint, his fourth Classic win (all with 3-year-olds), and his 17th overall Breeders' Cup victory. The trainer also saddled runner-up Improbable and fifth-place finisher Maximum Security in this year's Classic.

“I tell you what, I needed that, didn't I?” Baffert quipped. “We really were disappointed after the Preakness; I was sort of surprised. He's a quirky horse, but Johnny really knows him well. He's just getting better and better. I'm so happy for the connections, MyRacehorse, and especially Wayne Hughes.”

It was also the second Breeders' Cup win on the day for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez (Gamine), whose total now stands at 18. Velazquez was grateful to celebrate his first victory in the Classic victory.

“The older I get the more emotional I get,” Velazquez said. “It worked out perfect. Bob said to take him to the lead so he doesn't wander so much and keep his mind on running. It worked out. He did everything I wanted him to do.”

Majority owner B. Wayne Hughes of Spendthrift Farm was in attendance at the Breeders' Cup, though he'd missed the colt's triumph in the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5.

“It's been such an unbelievably surreal year,” said Spendthrift president Eric Gustavson. “To say that the horse has brought us a lot of light and distraction is an understatement… To have the off date Kentucky Derby and then the back to normal Breeders' Cup and to
be able to win those both in one year and with a 3-year-old, man, it's too much.”

Authentic is co-owned by Starlight Racing Stable (Jack Wolf, et. al.), Madaket Stables (Sol Kumin and J. Monteleone), and approximately 5,314 individuals who bought microshares via the upstart ownership group My Racehorse launched by Michael Behrens.

“It's an amazing ride,” Behrens said. “I could never have imagined that it would end like this. I mean, this is the pinnacle of racing. And when we set out to do this a couple years ago the idea was to celebrate this sport with as many people as possible, and to have 5,314 people to have an ownership stake in Authentic, I couldn't have asked for anything better. And the partnership with Spendthrift and Eric and Mr. Hughes, it's been tremendous having this opportunity. And I just, I really can't believe this happened. I mean, I love racing and I want more and more people to be able to experience this and to have this happen? I don't know, it's crazy.”

Authentic was bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, and is out of the winning Mr. Greeley mare Flawless. He commanded a final bid of $350,000 at the Keeneland September sale, and has now won six of his eight lifetime starts for earnings of $6,371,200.

Leaving from post nine in the 10-horse Classic field, Authentic burst from the gate and went straight to the lead. Velazquez got him clear of his rivals and made his way to the rail, then took a nice hold with a easy two-length lead. Maximum Security was up on his outside in second while Global Campaign, Tiz the Law, and By My Standards were up close as well. Improbable was sixth in the early going.

“I didn't think there was too much speed in the race, and once I got him running past the wire for the first time, he was looking good for it,” Velazquez said.

Authentic continued to carry his speed all the way around the course, never looking in danger through the stretch and hitting the wire 2 1/4 lengths the best. Improbable checked in second after coming from further off the pace, a length better than Global Campaign on the wire. Tacitus was fourth, and Maximum Security finished fifth.

The remaining order of finish was: Tiz the Law, Title Ready, By My Standards, Tom's d'Etat, and Higher Power.

Other connections had the following comments after the race:

Second-place jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Improbable) – “I had a good trip, a perfect trip. I had him in the clear. He just got beat. It was a great race.”

Second-place co-owner Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm (Improbable) – “He just kind of let the other horse get away and nobody went with him. I don't know what the pace was because they messed up the fractions. But they kind of walked the dog out there. But he ran his race. He was wide both turns but he was second best.”

Third-place trainer Stanley Hough (Global Campaign) – “This horse has been through a lot in his career. We got his foot problems behind him and today was the first time he was really able to show his potential. We are so proud of him and he ran a great race.”

Third-place jockey Javier Castellano (Global Campaign) – “I had a beautiful trip, that's what I was looking for today. I knew there was a lot of speed in the race, but I had to play a little bit to get him to move forward. With this horse I didn't want to be too far back. I thought he ran a good race and I'm satisfied with how he did today. I was happy where I was positioned because they were going pretty quick. Maximum Security is the kind of horse that wants to set the pace. Our horse is a pace-maker too, but the other horses had more speed than my horse. We had a good early position and I'm very satisfied with how he did.”

Fourth-place trainer Bill Mott (Tacitus) – “He ran well. The trip was good. He saved ground around both turns and look like he needed a little room in the stretch. He ran a big race.”

Fourth-place jockey Jose Ortiz (Tacitus) – “He ran well. He sat back today. Relaxed well. I was hoping for a hot pace. I didn't see the fractions, but it didn't feel like it was very hot. So it took the chances away from me. I was expecting a hot pace and to pick up the pieces and close and have a shot to win the race. I was expecting a fast fight. It didn't happen that way but he ran really, really good. He improved a lot from the last two.”

Fifth-place jockey Luis Saez (Maximum Security) – “It was a good trip. He was right there. We came to the stretch and the winner was rolling. It was very impressive. But, he tried. He ran a good race.”

Sixth-place trainer Barclay Tagg (Tiz the Law) – “I was happy with the way he came into the race. I thought he would run his race but (jockey Manny Franco) said he was just too keen and didn't run.”

Sixth-place jockey Manny Franco (Tiz the Law) – “I had an OK trip. I was down inside. My horse never settled for me. He was pulling me the whole way hard. When I sent to looking for him he was done.

(Were you trapped inside?): “I was inside looking for a way to get out to a clear run. I had wait longer than I wanted to. It is what it is.”

Eighth-place trainer Bret Calhoun (By My Standards) – “I thought Gabe (Saez) had him in a great spot early on. Broke sharp, got in a good spot. I thought everything looked pretty good and like Gabe wanted to start picking them up and from the outside they started moving and kind of held him down there. He wasn't able to continue his move picking up horses and kind of had to wait a little longer until they cleared him. I think once he tried to go again, they just smoothed out and out-stepped him there. That next move, they just outstepped him. I don't know if he got a little discouraged having to wait or he lost a little momentum. He got outkicked from there, it looked like.”

“The track (playing to speed), and I didn't want to do anything different and change anything up. We're not that fast to change things up. You can't run with those horses early. It shows what good a race Whitmore ran (in closing to win the Sprint).”

Eighth-place jockey Gabe Saez (By My Standards) – “What can I say? The horses didn't come back. Speed-biased all day long. I got him into a great spot right from the beginning. I was in a great position tracking off the pace. Running around the three-eighths pole, and they weren't stopping. He ran every step of the way. I got a little bounced around the five-sixteenths pole. Franco's horse (Manny Franco, Tiz the Law) kind of came out a little bit, but I was not going to get there today. They were running.”

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Classic: Baffert ‘Could See All Three Of Them Hitting The Board,’ Sadler Has ‘Gut Feeling’ About Higher Power

Authentic, Improbable, Maximum Security – Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said any one of his three runners could take him to the winner's circle after the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.

“It wouldn't surprise me at all,” Baffert said Thursday after Authentic, Improbable and Maximum Security each galloped 1 1/2 miles at Keeneland. “I wouldn't be surprised by any of them.”

In his last three starts, Authentic, owned by Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing has won the Haskell, the Kentucky Derby and finished second in the Preakness, making him a top contender for the 3-year-old male title.

The 4-year-old Improbable, owned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and SF Racing, has won three Grade 1 races in a row, the Hollywood Gold Cup, the Whitney and the Awesome Again, and is the 5-2 favorite. He is a top contender for the older male divisional title.

Gary and Mary West, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor's Maximum Security, was the 3-year-old champ in 2019. Since being moved to Baffert's care earlier this year, he and won the San Diego and Pacific Classic and finished second to improbable in the Awesome Again. He, too, is a contender for the older male title. A victory in the Classic by any one of the three could lead to the Horse of the Year award.

“I could see all three of them hitting the board. But they've got to get the trip,” Baffert said. “The only pressure I feel is that they are three good horses and they should be right there. Every time I've come into the Breeders' Cup where I have had horses that should be right there, they are right there. I feel real good about that.”

Baffert trained Maximum Security's sire, New Year's Day, to win the 2013 Breeder's Cup Juvenile. He received the 4-year-old colt, winner of the inaugural Saudi Cup this spring after trainer Jason Servis was arrested for his alleged involvement in doping horses. Baffert and his crew had to learn how to handle the accomplished runner and develop a training program.

“He's very deceiving. He reminds me a lot of Silver Charm,” Baffert said. “Silver Charm was very tough. I could work him with a $30,000 maiden claimer or a stakes horse and he would outwork them by a nose. That's the way he was. He's not going to give you any extra in the mornings. I can see why they ran him for maiden $16,000. But, one thing about him is that he has what Silver Charm had, something you can't measure, and that's his heart. He has heart galore.”

Baffert had pointed out Maximum Security as one of the horses to beat in the 2019 Kentucky Derby – a race that he finished first in, but was disqualified for interference – but came to appreciate the colt's grit in his first start for his barn, the San Diego July 25.

“Turning for home he had every reason to get beat,” Baffert said. “For some reason I'm watching him, like 'Let's see. If you are a great horse you are going to get up.' And he did. Great horses find a way to win.”

Baffert said that Maximum Security's second in the Awesome Again might have unfairly hurt his reputation.

“He's like the forgotten horse,” Baffert said. “He's like 'the other Baffert,' but I think he's going to be right there, too.”

Baffert describes Maximum Security as a strong and versatile runner.

“He's fast,” Baffert said. “He's not going to get in traffic. He's going to be right there. He's quick and he's powerful and I really think he's going to like this track. Santa Anita is a good track, but it's deep. A heavy horse like that struggles with it. He seems to be going over this track. I like this track.”

By My Standards – After shipping in to Keeneland Wednesday, Allied Racing Stable's By My Standards put in a routine gallop around the Keeneland main track Thursday morning for trainer Bret Calhoun. The ultra-consistent son of Goldencents continues to impress his conditioner as he prepares for his toughest test yet, the Longines Classic.

“What's impressive about him is that I think he's been at his best for a long time and I think that goes back to before (winning) the Louisiana Derby. Two races before that, in a maiden race, he got beat and I couldn't explain it. I was distraught and down about it thinking maybe I misjudged his ability. I didn't know what to think, but then he came back and won the next maiden looking like the horse I thought. From that day on, it was like the light came on and he's pretty much held that form and work pattern since. He's definitely become physically stronger.”

Global Campaign – Sagamore Farm LLC and WinStar Farm LLC's Global Campaign “had a nice gallop” at Keeneland Thursday morning after arriving from Churchill Downs following training hours Wednesday.

Trainer Stanley Hough, who was scheduled to saddle two runners at Churchill Thursday afternoon, will make the Breeders' Cup Classic scene at Keeneland Friday morning.

Hough, who started training in 1969 and is credited with more than 2,200 winners by Equibase, is very much enjoying his successful association with Sagamore during the past few years after stepping away from training a public stable in 2012.

“I never worked with a group that I've enjoyed more than with Sagamore. It's been such a real pleasure,” Hough said. “It's like a family. It really hasn't been work. It's been a lot of fun.”

Training Classic contenders such Global Campaign have added to the fun. The 4yo son of Curlin is coming off a front-running victory in the Woodward at Saratoga. Hough certainly doesn't expect him to be able to employ the same tactics when he takes on the speedy likes of the Bob Baffert-trained Authentic and Maximum Security.

“The speed is outside us obviously. Each one of those horses would like to be in front, so I would hope to break good and follow them. I would like to not be too far back and not get shuffled back,” said Hough, whose Classic contender will break from the starting gate from post seven, two stalls inside Authentic and three inside Maximum Security. “I'm hoping to follow the speed, and I know everyone else is the same way.”

Hall of Famer jockey Javier Castellano is scheduled to ride Global Campaign for the first time Saturday.

Higher Power – Hronis Racing's Higher Power galloped Thursday morning under Juan Leyva and had another paddock schooling session as part of his preparation for his second run in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Higher Power will be looking to give Hronis Racing and trainer John Sadler a second Breeders' Cup Classic victory to go with the one Accelerate claimed in 2018 at Churchill Downs.

“That was a milestone victory for my career,” Sadler said of his first Breeders' Cup winner that came with his 45th starter in the World Championships. “That was the narrative, and it got the monkey off my back. But we had run so many good races with horses that had run really well.”

Sadler's runners have compiled an overall 50-1-4-8-4-4-5 mark in the Breeders' Cup, an event Sadler first participated in back in 1988 when Olympic Prospect ran seventh in the mud at Churchill Downs.

“As I have gotten older, I am at the point where I don't want to run a horse just to be here,” Sadler said.

Higher Power was 9-1 in the Classic last year when he finished third behind Vino Rosso. He is 20-1 on the morning line for Saturday's running.

“He won't be one of the favorites (like Accelerate was),” Sadler said. “But the way he is doing … I just have a gut feeling that he is going to run well.”

Tacitus – Juddmonte Farms' homebred Tacitus continued his march toward the Longines Classic with an easy gallop of Keeneland's main track on Thursday morning. Looking to be trainer Bill Mott's third Classic winner, the son of Tacitus was piloted by exercise rider Felipe Castro. On Saturday, he reunites with longtime collaborator Jose Ortiz.

Title Ready – Charles Fipke's Title Ready galloped for the first time Thursday at Keeneland after arriving from his Churchill Downs base Wednesday.

Tiz the Law – Veteran trainer Barclay Tagg chuckled Thursday morning after he delivered a comment that showed he was equally upbeat and nervous about Tiz the Law's chances in the $6 million Classic.

“I've got confidence in the horse, but I don't have confidence in the luck. A lot can happen in a race,” Tagg said. “It seems like he's coming up to it well, so I've got no complaints.”

Tiz the Law went out for a routine 1 ½ m gallop Thursday with Heather Smullen. The 3yo New York-bred colt owned by Sackatoga Stable will start from post 2 in the field of 10 under Manny Franco in a race that Tagg has targeted for months. Tiz the Law won three straight Grade 1 races, the Florida Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers. He was second as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 but was kept out of the Preakness to recover from some body soreness.

Tagg shipped him to Keeneland on Oct. 18 to give him two weeks of training time over the track. The Classic will be his first try against older horses.

“Manny knows him pretty well and this will be the toughest race of his life, by far,” Tagg said. “Just have to hope that everything goes well. I think he can handle it or I wouldn't put him in there. But you never know. It doesn't take much to get beat against horses like that.”

Sackatoga's operating partner Jack Knowlton acknowledged that championships as well as purse money are on the line in the Classic. He said a victory could make the colt, purchased for $110,000 as a yearling, the Horse of the Year.

“You can think about that, but beyond that, if he doesn't win, if he's second or third and Authentic is off the board, at that point, that should lock up 3-year-old of the year,” Knowlton said. “It's not all or nothing. We've really got two prizes that can possibly be attained and one of them does not require us to win the race. Obviously, we would love to win the race. It's a hugely prestigious race and it's a $6 million race. Sackatoga has got one Eclipse for 3-year-old and we've love to have another for 3-year-old. It's nice to have a fall-back position in a race like this.

“The key is for Manny to find the right trip in there. If he can do that, I think this horse is going to be tough to beat.”

After training was completed, Knowlton, Tagg and Smullen headed to the Kentucky Horse Park to pay a visit to their first champion, Funny Cide. He won the 2003 crown after his victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

“It's always fun,” Knowlton said. “He's himself and he doesn't pay any more attention to me than he does anybody else.”

Tagg said that Funny Cide ignored him during his last visit.

“I called him and called him and he wouldn't pick his head up,” Tagg said, laughing. “He didn't even look. I rattled paper from treats. That was a while ago. I haven't been back since.”

For Knowlton, visiting Funny Cide is a rite of spring. In upside-down 2020, he will see the 20-year-old twice later than usual.

“I never miss a year,” he said. “I saw him when I was here for Derby. it's just one of the things on the must-do list every year when I come to the Derby, to go the Horse Park.”

Tom's d'Etat – When Tom's d'Etat made his first appearance at Keeneland just over a year ago, he used the Lexington oval to pad his resume with an achievement that — at the time — ranked as the career highlight for the star-crossed son of Smart Strike. On Thursday morning, the 7-year-old horse returned to the Keeneland main track with designs on once again earning an accolade that would dwarf any of his prior successes.

Having shipped over from Churchill Downs less than 24 hours earlier, Tom's d'Etat got reacquainted with the Keeneland track for the first time since taking the Grade 2 Fayette last October when he galloped and visited the gate as he prepares for Saturday's $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

“Even though he's an older horse, he was looking around and showing good energy, very fresh,” trainer Al Stall Jr. said. “As soon as he finished training I got a bunch of hits on my phone. Caton (Bredar) said a lot of very nice things about him on the (TVG) coverage — and I agree with what Caton said. He's been acting like he knows what's going on this week. He knows something's coming up.”

That 4 ¼-length victory in the Fayette last fall marked the first graded stakes win for Tom's d'Etat, no small feat given he had had much of his career interrupted because of ankle injuries and other setbacks. The lens of hindsight now views that Keeneland outing as a shot across the bow for the handicap ranks as Tom's d'Etat would go on to capture the Grade 1 Clark in his subsequent outing before earning wins in the Oaklawn Mile and Stephen Foster this season.

“We considered maybe going to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile off the Woodward last year, but it was out at Santa Anita so we decided to stay home, and the spacing of the Fayette and the Clark was really nice,” Stall said. “We ended up being less than even money in both races I think and he showed what kind of horse he really was. As soon as he crossed the wire in the Clark, we knew where the Breeders' Cup was 11 months later right here in our backyard.”

Though Tom's d'Etat finished third to Improbable, the morning line favorite in the Classic, in the Whitney on Aug. 1, the bay horse got the better of that rival by three-quarters of a length when they first met in the Oaklawn Mile.

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Two-Time Oklahoma Horse Of The Year Welder Wins Third Straight Oklahoma Classics Sprint

Oklahoma's two-time Horse of the Year, Welder, won the $130,000 Oklahoma Classics Sprint for the third year in a row Friday night at Remington Park. The lightning fast gray gelding could well be headed toward Horse of the Year status again.

The 7-year-old son of The Visualiser, out of the Tiznow mare Dance Softly, won his 10th stakes race in a row at Remington Park, extending his record in that category. He toyed with this field of six for the first half-mile of the six-furlongs, and when jockey David Cabrera pushed the button?

“He grabbed the bit and said, 'See ya!'” said Cabrera. “He is usually very aggressive, but tonight, whew. He really wanted to win this.”

Trainer Teri Luneack agreed with her rider.

“It's been everything we could do to control him (at the farm),” she said. “I feel so bad for Courtney (Scanling, Luneack's assistant). She has to hand walk him every day and sometimes he gets a little country. He ran a great race. I'm so proud of him. This was a tremendous team effort from top to bottom at the barn.”

Owner Clayton Rash (Ra-Max Farms), of Claremore, Okla., was wearing his lucky OU Sooners red sweatshirt. He said it really helps to have a horse like this that doesn't have a down year, especially when your football team has started at two wins, two losses.

“It really does help,” Rash said with a belly laugh. He goes to the barn three or four times a week just to scratch Welder's nose. “He even knows my cologne now. I'm a man of loyalty and I will continue to wear my Sooners stuff.”

This millionaire gelding, bred at Center Hills Farm's division at Mighty Acres Ranch in Pryor, Okla., isn't getting older; he's getting better. Welder took another step toward the all-time winningest record at Remington Park. This was his 13th win in 17 tries in Oklahoma City. He is now two wins away from tying Highland Ice and Elegant Exxactsy, who won 15 races each in their Remington Park careers.

Luneack had a good feeling about Welder all week with him jumping out of his skin.

“He can be really crabby when the girls go in (the barn) until they break out the peppermints,” she said. “Courtney is in charge of the crazy with him so I don't have to. I thought that close win on the grass might have taken something out of him, but it didn't.”

Welder won the Remington Park Turf Sprint in his last start on Sept. 25, grinding out a neck-long victory in what has been determined to be his one and only turf start.

In the Classics Sprint, Welder sat just off the pace set by 3-year-old gelding Mesa Moon and then took over in the stretch, cruising to a four-length win as the heavy betting favorite at 2-5 odds. He covered the six furlongs in 1:09.78 seconds and paid $2.80 to win, $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show. Mesa Moon (2-1 odds) held on for second, 2-1/4 lengths in front of No Lak of Speed. The interior fractions were :22.13 seconds for the first quarter-mile, :44.96 for the half-mile, and :57.18 for five-eighths of a mile.

Welder is expected to make his next trip to Remington Park for the Silver Goblin Stakes on Friday, Nov. 13. After that, if Welder doesn't have another race in Oklahoma City, Oaklawn Park is a strong possibility in Hot Springs, Ark., for his 8-year-old year debut.

“Like I am with my Sooners and Welder, I'm very loyal to Oaklawn,” said Rash. “I've been going there for the races since I was 18 years old.” That's over about a five-decade period now. There are two more loyalties Rash has no problem divulging.

“David and Teri are both phenomenal with Welder,” Rash said. “I can't tell you how much they mean to me.”

Welder earned $78,000 for the win and now has raced 36 times, won 24 and finished second five times and third four times. His lifetime bankroll is $1,137,018.

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The House that Awesome Again Built

All eyes will be on Santa Anita for their opening weekend feature in the GI Awesome Again S. as Bob Baffert trainees Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) and Improbable (City Zip) go head to head for the first time since that consequential first Saturday in May last year.

The $300,000 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” contest could mark the emergence of an unusual stablemate rivalry.

Over two decades ago, the race’s namesake was part of a different rivalry– one for 1998 Horse of the Year.

Awesome Again had gone undefeated that year, claiming five consecutive victories in the GII Stephen Foster H., GI Whitney, GII Saratoga Breeders’ Cup H., GIII Hawthorne Gold Cup H. and finally the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

While his chief competitor Skip Away ended up finishing sixth in that year’s Classic, his five Grade I wins from earlier in the year were enough for Skip Away to be named Horse of the Year.

Adena Springs Stallion Manager Bill Drury admits his bias, but he said he still believes Awesome Again should have received the title from his Classic victory.

“That year’s Classic was the strongest field of horses ever put together in the same race,” he said. “I think he should have got Horse of the Year off that. Had he beat Skip Away twice, he would have.”

To prove his point, Drury can rattle off the field’s Grade I winners by heart: Awesome Again, Skip Away, Silver Charm, Arch, Gentlemen (Arg), Coronado’s Quest, Touch Gold, Swain (Ire) and Victory Gallop.

The horseman remembers being in the Churchill Downs’ grandstand that day.

“I didn’t see him cross the finish line because I knew I wanted to be in that winner’s circle,” he recalled. “When I saw Pat Day lead him between those horses, I knew he had it. It was such a thrill. I knew he was coming to my stallion barn and I was on cloud nine when he won that race.”

Drury said that Awesome Again got his Horse of the Year vengeance soon after taking up stud duty.

Awesome Again wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Pat Day aboard | Horsephotos

“I tell people that when he didn’t get it, it ticked him off so he said, ‘I’ll make my own Horse of the Year,’ and he produced Ghostzapper in his first crop.”

2004 Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee Ghostzapper is one of the 14 Grade I winners, 13 millionaires and four Breeders’ Cup Champions that Awesome Again has produced. Ghostzapper’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic made his sire the first Classic winner to also sire a Classic winner.

After 21 years at stud, Awesome Again was officially pensioned last year from stud duty.

“After all that he’s done for us, we decided to let him enjoy his retirement,” Drury said. “We had people begging, ‘I’ve got a mare I want to breed to Awesome Again,’ and we literally had to keeping saying no. He deserved retirement.”

Even still, when Drury introduces guests to the farm, the homebred for Frank Stronach is still the headliner.

“I always start by telling my visitors to Adena Springs, ‘Welcome to the house that Awesome Again built.’ He’s our corner-post stallion. He’s still a crowd favorite when people come. He’s our first homebred champion and we’ve gotten several champions by him.”

Drury and Awesome Again have formed a close bond over their many years together, and the 26-year-old bay will always have a place in Drury’s heart.

“We’re pretty good buddies,” he said with a smile. “I believe the saying that cream rises to the top. Well he’s got to be one of the sweetest creams there is. His personality is one in a million. He’s got the heart of a champion and he’s just a classy horse.”

Adena Springs Stallion Sales Manager Ken Wilkins spoke on the success the farm has had with the son of Deputy Minister.

“A phenomenon you don’t see that much anymore is people taking the time and patience to develop sire lines,” Wilkins said. “Deputy Minister had a huge impact in Canada and of course in the United States. Awesome Again was one of our foundation sires and that led to Ghostzapper, who’s been a star in his own right.”

Wilkins noted that the sire line has come full circle at this year’s yearling sales.

“This will be Awesome Again’s last crop of yearlings that will go to sale. But at the same time, the sire line has been carried on by our Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper), whose first crop of yearlings are offered this year. So it’s kind of a transition. Our hope is that Shaman Ghost will carry the baton.”

Wilkins added that he expects breeders will soon find many of the same characteristics in Shaman Ghost as they did in his grandsire.

“Breeders recognized the quality and consistency that Awesome Again had as a sire,” he said. “One of the things he brought to the table was that he was a proven bet. We certainly bet on him over and over again, and we cashed a lot of tickets from making those bets.”

Frank Stronach greets Shaman Ghost after his win in the GI Santa Anita H. | Benoit

Game on Dude, an eight-time Grade I winner and record three-time GI Santa Anita H. winner, is Awesome Again’s leading earner and one of his five multi-millionaires.

“Game on Dude is probably Awesome Again’s fan-favorite offspring,” Wilkins said. “It seems like a week doesn’t go by without someone coming out here and mentioning him. The career that horse had was tremendous.”

Awesome Again’s four other multi-millionaires include Ghostzapper, Eclipse Champion Older Mare Ginger Punch, GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Champion Wilko and Awesome Gem.

Drury explained that he has found a common trait in many of his charge’s top progeny.

“He’s not a big horse, but he put a giant’s heart in his horses,” he said. “Ginger Punch, Wilko, Game on Dude- they’re not big horses, but they could run. You can’t even see Ginger Punch in the photo finish [of her win in the 2007 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff] because she was behind the horse that came in second. If there was one trait he passed on more than anything, it was the heart he put in the horse.”

In recent years, Awesome Again’s most successful progeny include last year’s GI Belmont S. winner Sir Winston, as well as Grade II winners Bravazo, Always Shopping and Something Awesome.

“That’s the sign of a great sire,” Wilkins said. “Great sires keep coming up with good horses. Then the next thing you see from a great sire is that they become a great broodmare sire.”

Awesome Again’s daughters have produced six Grade I winners, including Eclipse Champion Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky). Ghostzapper looks to continue the trend as the broodmare sire of Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy) and champion sprinter Drefong (Gio Ponti).

With Awesome Again’s final crops now hitting the track, Adena Springs hopes he can pass on the baton to the stallion empire he has constructed.

“He’s the center post of my stallion barn,” Drury said. “We’ve got his son, we’ve got his grandson and we have his half-brother Macho Uno (Holy Bull). He’s Adena Springs’ legacy, and I’m proud as I can be to have been with him.”

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