Derby Winner Authentic on Track for Preakness

The 2020 GI Kentucky Derby winner Authentic (Into Mischief) and his stablemate Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile) are both on track for Pimlico's GI Preakness S., scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3, according to trainer Bob Baffert. The Hall of Famer reported Sunday from Keeneland's September yearling sale that both colts remain at the Churchill barn of D. Wayne Lukas. Both are galloping daily and Baffert indicated they would both likely breeze toward the end of the week.

“[Authentic] came out [of the Derby] very well, very well,” said Baffert Sunday. “He's ready to go. We would have been ready to go in two weeks.”

The Preakness, of course, is usually scheduled for two weeks after the Derby as the second leg of the Triple Crown, but has been delayed to four weeks behind the Derby as the third leg of the series with this year's altered scheduling due to COVID-19.

Authentic, who is co-owned by Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing, is Baffert's sixth Derby winner. He will seek his eighth win in the Preakness.

Thousand Words, a multiple graded stakes winner who won the Aug. 1 Shared Belief S. in his last Derby prep, was scratched just prior to the Derby when he flipped during saddling. The horse was uninjured, but Baffert's long-time assistant, Jimmy Barnes, broke his wrist in the incident and needed nine screws and a plate during surgery, according to Baffert.

“Thousand Words, he's fine,” said Baffert. “When he went up he sort of lost his footing and was on his side. He was okay and was checked out. He's doing well.”