Authentic will try to win KY Derby (G1) from post 18

G1 winner Authentic stretches his legs under the twin spires | Coady photo

If Into Mischief is to get his first Kentucky Derby (G1) winner on Saturday, Authentic will have to overcome drawing post 18, the widest draw of all in the field.

“Not ideal for Authentic but I’m OK with it,” trainer Bob Baffert told the Churchill Downs media team via text. “He’s out of harm’s way. Just glad to be in the gate.”

Authentic, one of Into Mischief’s 23 stakes winners this year, won the July 18 Haskell Inv. (G1) in his most recent start. Training at Del Mar since then, he turned in a bullet six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 on Aug. 30, his final pre-Derby work.

Authentic is one of two Derby entrants, along with Thousand Works, that is partially owned by Spendthrift Farm. Spendthrift’s partners on Authentic are MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables LLC and Starlight Racing.

Starlight’s Jack Wolf said of Authentic’s draw: “The one time he was out there in California he broke dead right [in the Santa Anita Derby under Drayden Van Dyke] so hopefully [jockey Johnny Velazquez] will be a stronger rider this time around. I guess it’s better than one or two.”

The $3 million Derby is the last of 14 races at Churchill Downs on Saturday and will be televised live on NBC, with a post time of 7:01 ET.