Authentic holds off NY Traffic in $1M Haskell S. (G1)

Authentic and NY Traffic finished just a nose apart in Saturday’s Haskell S. (G1) at Monmouth Park, earning both colts a trip to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and giving Spendthrift stallions Into Mischief and Cross Traffic a one-two finish in the $1 million race for 3-year-olds.

Authentic and NY Traffic were first and second for the entire nine furlongs of the Haskell. Authentic carved out sensible fractions of :47.52 for the half-mile and 1:11.50 for six furlongs, and looked home free with a furlong to run, but NY Traffic made one final surge to just miss.

The final time was 1:50.45 on a fast track.

“He’s a good horse, and he’ll improve a lot off this race. It was the first time he shipped, and he’s very immature. He has a kid’s mind,” said trainer Bob Baffert, whose colt also earned a free spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) through victory in the Haskell, part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

Authentic, who won the Sham S. (G3) and San Felipe S. (G2) earlier this year, has now earned $1,011,200 for Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing.

NY Traffic, who was also second in this year’s Louisiana Derby (G2), did nothing to disgrace himself in defeat.

“I thought he ran good,” said the runner-up’s trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. “At the quarter pole you could see Authentic was cruising and my horse was off the bridle. To dig down and dig deep you can’t be more proud of that. Hopefully all goes well to the Kentucky Derby and we’re living the dream.”

Authentic topped off an incredible week for Into Mischief that also saw his 2-year-old fillies Dayoutoftheoffice and Make Mischief run 1-2 in Thursday’s Schuylerville S. (G2). With 18 stakes winners this year, Into Mischief is once again atop the General Sire list. NY Traffic’s sire Cross Traffic is currently in the top five on the Third-Crop list with 29 individual winners and earnings of over $1.5 million.