Authentic seeks to stay perfect in Santa Anita Derby

Jun 03, 2020 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Authentic has done everything right so far, posting comfortable wire-to-wire wins in all three starts, and he can continue to enhance his Kentucky Derby credentials in Saturday’s $400,000 Santa Anita Derby (G1). Trained by five-time Kentucky Derby and seven-time Santa Anita Derby winner Bob Baffert, Authentic will break from the far outside post in a seven-horse field.

A debut scorer in November, Authentic opened his 3-year-old season with wins in the Sham (G3) and March 7 San Felipe (G2). The bay son of Into Mischief will stretch to 1 1/8 miles with regular rider Drayden Van Dyke, and the Santa Anita Derby will award points on a 100-40-20-10 scale as a major qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

Honor A. P. seeks to exact a measure of revenge following his runner-up effort in the San Felipe. A smashing 5 1/4-length maiden winner when trying two turns in mid-October, the John Shirreffs trainee returned from a five-month layoff last time, offering a nice move into contention by upper stretch before weakening in the final furlong, and Honor A. P. is eligible to move forward off the comebacker. The son of Honor Code retains Mike Smith.

Shooters Shoot will make his stakes debut with a two-race win streak, posting a commendable entry-level allowance triumph at Oaklawn Park most recently, and Abel Cedillo has the call for Peter Eurton. Rushie also exits a fine entry-level allowance tally in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and Flavien Prat takes the mount on the Michael McCarthy-trained son of Liam’s Map.

Azul Coast will make his first appearance since capturing the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in mid-February, and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) runner-up Anneau d’Or