Spendthrift Farm's first-crop stallion Authentic was represented by his first stakes winner Oct. 12 when the 2-year-old filly Power Connection defeated the boys in the $60,000 Manzano Stakes at The Downs at Albuquerque.
Stalking the pace in the initial stages of the six-furlong sprint, Power Connection took the lead in the stretch and powered home to a two-length victory as the 3-2 second choice, completing the distance in 1:10.31 under jockey Irwin Rosendo.
Out of the Officer mare Lady Leftennant, the dark bay or brown filly was bred in Kentucky by Scott Pierce. It was also the filly's maiden victory after three maiden runs in Southern California for trainer Todd Fincher. Owned by Gary Randall Andrews, James Cone, Brad King, and Robert Lewis, she is now 1-1-1 from four starts for earnings of $57,100.
A son of five-time leading sire Into Mischief , Authentic was a three-time grade 1 winner at 3, taking the Haskell Stakes (G1), Kentucky Derby (G1), and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) en route to 2020 Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male honors at the Eclipse Awards. That season, he also won the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and Sham Stakes (G3) and was runner-up in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Santa Anita Derby (G1). He retired with a record of 6-2-0 from eight starts for earnings of $7,201,200.
Authentic stood the 2024 season at Spendthrift for a fee of $50,000.
