Authentic upsets Tiz the Law, delivers Bob Baffert his sixth Kentucky Derby win
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2020 Kentucky Derby coverage
The Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com produced numerous stories, photos and videos out of Saturday’s 146th Kentucky Derby won by Bob Baffert trainee Authentic at Churchill Downs. Click below to read all of our coverage.
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Authentic capped off a dramatic half hour for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, winning the Kentucky Derby with an upset victory over heavy favorite Tiz the Law on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Going off as the 8-1 third choice, Authentic broke from the far outside post and led the Derby field into the first turn. He never relinquished the lead and defeated Tiz the Law — at 3-5, the biggest Derby favorite in decades — by 1 ¼ lengths.
It marked the sixth Kentucky Derby victory for Baffert, who tied legendary trainer Ben Jones for the most all-time. John Velazquez was aboard Authentic for his third career Derby win.
About 20 minutes before the race, Baffert’s other Derby entry — Thousand Words — reared in the paddock and flipped to the ground. He quickly got back to his feet and walked around the paddock area for a couple of minutes before an announcement was made that he would be scratched from the race. Thousand Words appeared to be uninjured before he left the paddock and headed back to the barn area.
After the race, Baffert choked back tears as he said that his longtime assistant trainer, Jimmy Barnes, suffered a broken arm in the paddock incident with Thousand Words and was in an ambulance as the Derby went off.
Authentic paid $18.80 to win, $6.00 to place and $5.00 to show. Tiz the Law — the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner — was second. Long-shot Mr. Big News was third.
The scratch of Thousand Words left the Derby with just 15 horses, the smallest field since 1998.
A few minutes following the race, Authentic got antsy on the Churchill Downs turf course — which doubles as the winner’s circle on Derby Day — and knocked Baffert to the ground. He was uninjured in the spill.
The final order of finish for the Derby: Authentic, Tiz the Law, Mr. Big News, Honor A. P., Max Player, Storm the Court, Enforceable, Ny Traffic, Necker Island, Major Fed, Sole Volante, Winning Impression, Money Moves, Attachment Rate, South Bend.
This story was originally published September 5, 2020 at 7:16 PM.
