KENTUCKY DERBY & BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC 2020 WINS | John Velazquez, Bob Baffert & Authentic Keeneland

The Breeders' Cup Classic, run at one and a quarter miles draws the top international thoroughbreds year after year. 2020's renewal was staged at Keeneland, Kentucky, where other winners on the card included Monomoy Girl, Knicks Go, Essential Quality, Aunt Pearl, Tarnawa, Audarya and Order of Australia.

AUTHENTIC (2017 x Into Mischief)
Bay colt
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: John Velazquez

Year-end honors for Champion 3-Year-Old and Horse of the Year were likely decided with one fell swoop when Hall of Fame and Kentucky Derby winning jockey John Velazquez piloted thoroughbred racehorse Authentic to a decisive gate-to-wire score in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland.

Stablemate Improbable ranged up four-wide heading into the far turn and made a bid for the lead at the top of the stretch, but Authentic’s unpressured early running meant he had more left in the tank.

Repelling his rivals like a vetran, Authentic became the first Kentucky Derby champion to win the Classic since American Pharoah sealed the deal over this same course and distance in 2015.

"It’s incredible," said Velazquez, whose 18th career Breeders' Cup riding victory was his first in the Classic. "Thanks to God and the whole team. The older, I get the more emotional I get. It worked out perfect. He did everything I wanted him to do."

Improbable's failed bid still resulted in a strong runner-up effort over Global Campaign, who dove to the rail in mid-stretch but failed to gain on the eventual winner.

Tacitus took fourth over Maximum Security and Tiz the Law by a nose and a head, respectively.

Behind them came Title Ready, By My Standards, Tom's d'Etat, and Higher Power to complete the order of finish.

Authentic's win was a return to form after Swiss defeated him in the Preakness Stakes.

"I’m just happy for Wayne Hughes (of Spendthrift) and everybody," said four-time Classic winning trainer Bob Baffert. "That was awesome."

1st 2020 Breeders’ Cup Classic, Keeneland
2nd 2020 Preakness Stakes, Pimlico (Swiss Skydiver)
1st 2020 Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs
1st 2020 Haskell Stakes, Monmouth Park
2nd 2020 Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita (Honor A.P.)
1st 2020 San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita
1st 2020 Sham Stakes, Santa Anita

Breeders’ Cup Classic winners:
2020 Authentic - John Velazquez / Bob Baffert
2019 Vino Rosso - Irad Ortiz Jr. / Todd Pletcher
2018 Accelerate - Joel Rosario / John W. Sadler
2017 Gun Runner - Florent Geroux / Steve Asmussen
2016 Arrogate - Mike E. Smith / Bob Baffert
2015 American Pharoah - Victor Espinoza / Bob Baffert
2014 Bayern - Martin Garcia / Bob Baffert
2013 Mucho Macho Man - Gary Stevens / Katherine Ritvo
2012 Fort Larned - Brian Hernandez Jr. / Ian Wilkes
2011 Drosselmeyer - Mike Smith / Bill Mott
2010 Blame - Garrett Gomez / Albert Stall Jr.
2009 Zenyatta - Mike Smith / John Shirreffs
2008 Raven's Pass - Frankie Dettori / John Gosden
2007 Curlin - Robby Albarado / Steve Asmussen
2006 Invasor - Fernando Jara / Kiaran McLaughlin
2005 Saint Liam - Jerry Bailey / Richard Dutrow Jr.
2004 Ghostzapper - Javier Castellano / Robert Frankel
2003 Pleasantly Perfect - Alex Solis / Richard Mandella
2002 Volponi - José A. Santos / Philip Johnson
2001 Tiznow - Chris McCarron / Jay Robbins
2000 Tiznow - Chris McCarron / Jay Robbins
1999 Cat Thief - Pat Day / D. Wayne Lukas
1998 Awesome Again - Pat Day / Patrick Byrne
1997 Skip Away - Mike Smith / Sonny Hine
1996 Alphabet Soup - Chris McCarron / David Hofmans
1995 Cigar - Jerry Bailey / Bill Mott
1994 Concern - Jerry Bailey / Richard Small
1993 Arcangues - Jerry Bailey / André Fabre
1992 A.P. Indy - Ed Delahoussaye / Neil Drysdale
1991 Black Tie Affair - Jerry Bailey / Ernie Poulos
1990 Unbridled - Pat Day / Carl Nafzger
1989 Sunday Silence - Chris McCarron / Charlie Whittingham
1988 Alysheba - Chris McCarron / Jack Van Berg
1987 Ferdinand - Bill Shoemaker / Charlie Whittingham
1986 Skywalker - Laffit Pincay Jr. / Michael Whittingham
1985 Proud Truth - Jorge Velásquez / John Veitch
1984 Wild Again - Pat Day / Vincent Timphony

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