Keeneland September Sale Graduate Authentic Wins Kentucky Derby

September Sale graduate Shedaresthedevil won Kentucky Oaks on Friday

Keeneland September Yearling Sale graduate Authentic used a front-running performance to win the 146th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) today at Churchill Downs.

Keeneland sales now have produced 23 Kentucky Derby winners, including four of the past five winners beginning with champion Nyquist in 2016 and continuing with Always Dreaming in 2017 and undefeated Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Justify in 2018.

At the 2018 September Sale, Bridie Harrison, agent for breeder Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, consigned Authentic and sold him for $350,000 to SF Bloodstock/Starlight West. Bob Baffert trains Authentic, a son of Into Mischief who also won the TVG.com Haskell Invitational (G1), San Felipe (G2) and Sham (G3), for Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing. John Velazquez rode the colt to his Derby win.

This year’s September Sale begins Sunday, Sept. 13.

Because a number of 2020 race meets and races were rescheduled because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Kentucky Derby is the second leg of this year’s Triple Crown. The first leg was the Belmont (G1) on June 20. The series concludes with the Preakness (G1) on Oct. 3.

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Earlier on the Kentucky Derby Day card, Keeneland sales Beau Recall (IRE) won the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (G2) and Sittin On Go took the Iroquois Presented by Ford (G3).

On Friday, Keeneland sales were represented by three graded stakes winners, led by Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Shedaresthedevil. She won the race with Swiss Skydiver second and Gamine third. All three fillies are September Sale alumni.

September Sale graduate and champion Monomoy Girl won the La Troienne Presented by Oak Grove Racing and Gaming (G1) and November Sale alumnusDiamond Oops took the Twin Spires Turf Sprint Presented by Sysco (G2).