Authentic’s Innovator battles his way to impressive maiden special weight win

Innovator out-fought Dreaminblue to earn his first win in a $110,000 maiden special weight contest for 2-year-old Sunday at Oaklawn Park, winning by a head in the six-furlong race.

The dark bay colt is the 24^th winner for top-5 First-Crop sire Authentic. Also on Sunday at Oaklawn, Authentic’s Adeera got her second stakes placing of the year in the $175,000 Year’s End S.

Innovator, who finished second in the $150,000 Advent S. on Dec. 4 at Oaklawn, was fastest out of the gate on Sunday and led the field through lively fractions of :21.81 and :45.24. Dreaminblue mounted a serious challenge at the top of the lane and was on even terms with a sixteenth to run before Innovator fought back to win in 1:09.81 over a muddy racetrack.

Innovator is owned by BC Stables, LLC, who purchased him for $900,000 at the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling sale. Bred in Kentucky by Peter Blum Thoroughbreds, Innovator is out of six-time stakes winner Inspired and is a half-brother to stakes horses Carmel Road and Night Time Lady.

Authentic, who covered 196 mares in 2024, will stand next year for $25,000 live foal.