Photo:

Robert Yates / Oaklawn & Bentley Breland / Eclipse Sportswire – edited composite

Trainer Tom Amoss said next-race plans are pending for
Triple Crown nominee Authentic Gallop, who gutted out a narrow, off-the-pace
victory at Oaklawn in Friday’s ninth race, a $130,000 allowance at 1 1/16 miles.

Ridden by Rafael Bejarano, Authentic Gallop paid $10.40 after edging McDude by a head with a time of 1:44.85 over a fast track. The first four
finishers were separated by only 1 3/4 lengths.

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Authentic Gallop had his blinkers removed for his return to
Oaklawn. He was coming off a third-place finish in an entry-level allowance at
1 1/16 miles Jan. 20 at Fair Grounds, beaten by five lengths by Admiral Dennis
after setting the pace.

“The thing about Authentic Gallop, he has not put it
together yet, and he doesn’t have a great understanding of competition,” said Fair
Grounds-based Amoss, who was at Oaklawn on Friday to saddle the colt. “Today we
were fortunate in a couple of aspects. We had a target to run at in a speed
horse (Landing Craft), and secondly down the stretch where really it was a
four-horse race, he was made to show that he was competitive. I thought he
stepped forward today. Although it wasn’t a wow race, at the same time I think
it’s the kind of race we need for Authentic Gallop to have a better understanding
of racing, and I look for big things to come from him.”

The victory was the second in seven starts for Authentic
Gallop, a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling-sale purchase by Greg Tramontin’s
Greenwell Thoroughbreds.

Authentic Gallop broke his maiden at 1 1/16 miles Dec. 13,
becoming the first Oaklawn winner for his sire Authentic, the 2020 Kentucky
Derby winner and horse of the year.

“Blinkers came off today,” Amoss said Friday. “We were going
to give him a target to run at, something different than he did last time,
which was go to the front and be out there. He looked like a lost dog. It
worked. These are young horses, and they can make big improvements. We’ve got
big dreams for this horse whether it’s this spring or next year. I don’t know
yet, but there’s more to come from him.”

Authentic Gallop was the second consecutive winner on
Friday’s card for Amoss, pushing his 2024-25 meet total to seven. Amoss has a
much greater presence this season at Oaklawn than previous years.

Amoss said he plans to start You’ll Be Back in Oaklawn’s
$150,000 Dixie Belle for 3-year-old fillies Feb. 15 and I Got Game in the
$150,000 Ozark on Feb. 17. Each stakes is six furlongs.