OCEANPORT, N.J. — Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert acquired yet another gain in the Haskell Stakes with a gifted, establishing colt who is now quite substantially in the photo for the coronavirus-delayed Kentucky Derby.

Genuine gave Baffert his document-extending ninth victory in the $1 million Grade 1 Haskell on Saturday, holding off late charging Ny Site visitors by a nose at Monmouth Park.

Jockey Mike Smith put the Santa Anita Derby runner-up on the guide at the start and they coated the 1 1/8- mile Grade 1 stakes in 1:50.46. The acquire was the 3rd in 4 begins this 12 months for the colt.

“I’m just so proud of him,” Baffert stated. “I was telling Mike, ’You got to remain just after him and retain him occupied since he appears to be at every thing.’ I could convey to he was not targeted heading down the stretch. He held on and he noticed that horse coming to him and he took off once more.”

Belmont runner-up Dr. Submit finished third underneath jockey Joe Bravo.

Smith, who manufactured the trip in from the West Coastline and experienced to go a coronavirus take a look at right before attaining entrance to the keep track of, broke Authentic from the No. 2 post and under no circumstances misplaced the guide.

It was not the easiest of rides.

“He has an abundance of talent but he’s however got some growing up to do,” Smith explained. “He sees all kinds of issues that aren’t even there. Down the backside there are a whole lot of shadows with the sun environment and he need to have ducked at each one of them, He practically bought me off at a person stage.”

It could possibly have been a going absent present for Baffert, who has been hit with a 15-day suspension by the Oaklawn Park stewards in Arkansas. It’s the result of two of his horses tests good for becoming more than the allowed limit of a compound in races on May well 2. Baffert strategies to charm the penalty.

Assistant coach Jimmy Barnes saddled the colt Saturday.

Baffert past won the Haskell in 2015 with American Pharoah, a single of two colts he guided to the Triple Crown. Justify (2018) was the other.

Baffert’s other Haskell winners were being in 2014 (Bayern), 2012 (Paynter), 2011 (Coil), 2010 (Lookin at Fortunate), 2005 (Roman Ruler), 2002 (War Emblem) and 2001 (Position Supplied).

Authentic gained his very first a few commences right before finishing next to Honor A. P. in the Grade 1 race in California in his final start off on June 6.

Ny Targeted visitors, who finished 2nd in the Matt Winn in Kentucky in his very last begin, arrived flying late and could not catch Authentic in advance of the finish line with Paco Lopez aboard.

“I was positive I acquired him — 100%,” Lopez mentioned. “I can’t think it. I’m amazed we did not get. I really considered we bought him.”

Reliable attained 100 details for the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5. The winner also earned a berth for the Breeders’ Cup Common in November.

Authentic paid $3.20, $2.60 and $2.10. Ny Visitors returned $4.20 and $2.40, and Dr Put up paid out $2.10 to clearly show.

The proprietors of Tiz the Regulation strategy to run this year’s winner of the initial leg of the Triple Crown in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 8. It would be his last prep for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Preakness is scheduled for Oct. 3 in a rejiggered Triple Crown period changed by the coronavirus.

Just just before the Haskell, Bravo rallied Aquaphobia ($23.40) in the extend to a narrow victory in excess of Paret in the $300,000 The United Nations Stakes, the only other Quality 1 race run in New Jersey. It is was Bravo’s fifth gain in the race.