Authentic's 2 1/4-length victory over Improbable in Saturday's $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland capped off an incredible 2020 and likely Horse of the Year title for the Eddie Woods training grad.

The time of 1:59.19 for the 1 1/4-miles broke Baffert's 2015 Classic winner American Pharaoh's track record.

Authentic is surely to be named 3-year-old champion as well with wins in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Haskell Inv. (G1), San Felipe S. (G2) and Sham S. (G3) prior to Saturday's triumph.

Authentic came away very well from the gate from post 9 and took the lead almost immediately, with Maximum Security his closest pursuer. They stayed 1-2 for six furlongs, when Improbable took up the second spot. Improbable got within a length with a quarter mile to run, but Authentic re-broke in the stretch to complete his record-setting trip.

“You know what, they were all training so well and he was training well,” trainer Bob Baffert said of his three runners that also included Improbable and Maximum Security. “I think Johnny [Velazquez] got to know [Authentic] a lot better and he’s just a quirky guy. But when I saw him out there, he’s catching up with these older horses. That’s what they do at this time of year, what a horse. He’s the real deal.” 

Authentic's group of owners include Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing. The 3-year-old son of Into Mischief is in 6-2-0 in eight starts and has earned $6,191,200.