BALTIMORE, Md. – As he has done for so many years, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert held court outside the Pimlico Stakes Barn Wednesday morning after his Preakness horses had come back from the track.
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic was jogged clockwise over the muddy surface along the outside rail at 8:30 a.m., some 90 minutes after stablemate Thousand Words galloped a circuit on the course under Humberto Gomez. Both horses were shipped from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. to Maryland on Tuesday.
After breezing a half-mile in a ‘bullet’ 47.60 seconds at Churchill Downs Monday, Authentic had a very light morning of exercise Wednesday.
“He just went out there for a little jog. He looked good,” Baffert said. “Coming off that plane yesterday, he was like a keg of dynamite. He has so much energy, that horse. He’s just so full of himself.”
Video Bob Baffert: Click here to view
Authentic, who is owned by Spendthrift Farm LLC, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Starlight Racing, has been installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the Preakness, the last leg of the Triple Crown this year.
Albaugh Family Stables LLC and Spendthrift Farm LLC’s Thousand Words was scratched about a half hour before the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 when he reared up and fell while being saddled for the race. The Pioneerof the Nile colt turned in a sharp work Saturday at Churchill Downs that convinced Baffert that he was ready for the 145th Preakness. He will wear blinkers again after two races without that piece of equipment.
“He worked on Saturday so we gave him a little gallop around there,” Baffert said. “It’s a wet track and it’s hard tell what’s going on. He went nice and moved over the track. The main thing is you want your horses to look sound and healthy. He went nice.”
Video Authentic: Click here to view
Authentic gave Baffert his record-tying sixth Derby victory. Though each of his previous five Derby winners also won the Preakness, Baffert, 67, noted that the situation was different this year with the Covid-19 changes that juggled the Triple Crown schedule. The Belmont Stakes was run in June, the Derby on Labor Day weekend and the Preakness at the beginning of October.
“Two weeks, though. It was two weeks. We’ve got a month now,” Baffert said. “I would have loved to run two weeks later because he was just full of himself two weeks afterward. It’s just giving horses time to freshen up. You have new shooters now. It’s so turned around now.
“I feel real good about it. I think he’s going to run his race. He hasn’t regressed. He looks great.”
Baffert said he would have preferred that even though the Triple Crown had to be delayed because of the pandemic that the races were run in the same order, with the Belmont following the Preakness
“But it would have conflicted with the Breeders’ Cup for the 3-year-olds,” Baffert said. “I still think it would been a great scenario. I just feel fortunate that we even have this. It was looking pretty bleak (during the Covid lockdown).
“It doesn’t feel like Preakness, but it will the day of. It’s like the Kentucky Derby. It didn’t feel like Derby that day, but when that gate came open it felt like Derby. That’s the way it is. When that gate comes open it’s going to feel like Preakness. That’s what it’s all about. All you are hoping for is that your horses show up and when they turn for home you’re hoping you have something to root for. That’s it. That’s all you can ask for.”
Baffert is tied with 19th century trainer R. W. Walden with a record seven Preakness victories. While the dates are far different and the usual raucous scene will be quiet because spectators are not permitted, Baffert said he is happy that the 2020 Triple Crown was not cancelled.
“It would have been horrible if we didn’t have the Derby, the Preakness,” he said. “The Belmont was sort of different, more like the Dwyer. The Derby and the Preakness, at least we got to run them. And we have beautiful weather.
“I love coming to Baltimore, even though it’s pretty quiet right now. The environment here is just so nice. It’s a beautiful stakes barn. I’ve seen the same people here the last 15 to 20 years and they are glad to see us come in.”
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Photo: Authentic in a Pimlico work. Credit: Maryland Jockey Club
