Newly-turned 3-year-old Authentic kicked off his road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a 7 3/4-length score in the $100,000 Sham S. (G3) Jan. 4 at Santa Anita Park, making him the first Eddie Woods training grad to win a graded stakes in 2020.

The Sham was the second start for Authentic, a debut winner Nov. 9 at Del Mar for trainer Bob Baffert. Authentic had no trouble getting to the lead on Saturday, coasting through the first half-mile in :47.94 and six furlongs in 1:12.18, when he had a 2 1/2-length lead. He poured it on in the stretch to win as he pleased in 1:37.57.

“You want to see him run like that, especially this time of year. We’ve got some other ones back there. Hopefully, they’ll come along, but the timing is good for him now to run in the March race,”  Baffert said, referring to the March 7 San Felipe S. (G2).

The son of leading sire Into Mischief earned 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Saturday’s victory.

SF Bloodstock and Starlight West bought Authentic for $350,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The colt is campaigned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Fred Hertrich III, John Fielding, and Golconda Stables and has earned $91,200.

The winner was bred by Peter Blum Thoroughbreds. Authentic is from the family of Grade 1 winners Seventh Street and Reynaldothewizard.