Adeera First Winner for Horse of the Year Authentic

Regally bred Adeera won her debut race May 31 at Churchill Downs to give 2020 champion 3-year-old male and Horse of the Year Authentic his first winner as a stallion. Two-year-old Adeera won the $116,625 maiden special weight race in gate-to-wire fashion, drawing off to win by 3 3/4 lengths for rider Keith Asmussen and trainer Steve Asmussen. The final time for 5 1/2 furlongs was 1:04.95 on a fast dirt track. Adeera was a $300,000 purchase for owners L&N Racing and Jerry Caroom from Taylor Made Sales Agency's consignment at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. She was bred in Kentucky by Town & Country Horse Farms. Adeera's dam, the grade 3-placed Majestic Warrior mare Majestic Presence, has clicked incredibly with Authentic's sire Into Mischief, producing this year's Santa Anita Handicap (G1) winner Newgate and 9 1/4-length Beaumont Stakes (G2) winner Denim and Pearls, from just five foals of racing age. Bred in Kentucky by Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds, Authentic is out of the winning Mr. Greeley mare Flawless. He was a $350,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase in 2018 for SF Bloodstock and Starlight West. Trained by Bob Baffert, Authentic won six of eight starts in 2019-20, and was never worse than second. His five graded victories included the 2020 Haskell Stakes (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1), and a track record-setting win in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland. Retired to co-owner Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, Authentic stands for $50,000 in 2024.