CNL: Miss Authentic in time to win Maggie L. Walker
Narrowly earns first stakes win
Press Release
July 18, 2026
Miss Authentic came from off the pace to edge Waveless by a neck in the final stride to capture Saturday’s $100,000 Maggie L. Walker Stakes at Colonial Downs, earning the first stakes victory of her career.
Trained by Eddie Kenneally for Twin Oaks Bloodstock LLC, the 4-year-old daughter of Authentic settled near the back of the six-horse field while Amalfi Drive, pressed throughout by Runaway Diva, set the pace through swift fractions of :22.75, :44.66, and 1:08.44. Amalfi Drive finally shook free of Runaway Diva, but by then, Miss Authentic, Waveless, and Pink Ruby had lined up across the track with Miss Authentic the widest of all.
Waveless took dead aim on the leader entering the stretch and appeared headed to victory, but Miss Authentic, swung six-wide turning for home, finished with a determined late run to prevail by a neck. Pink Ruby completed the trifecta, while the 3-5 favorite Amalfi Drive, who stumbled at the break before rushing to the lead, faded to fourth.
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“Watching her replays and watching how she would run, and just hopefully the race would set up that way,” winning rider Jareth Loveberry said. “One-turn miles can kind of be a little bit tricky, but I had the horse today. Thanks to Eddie and the whole team there, we had it right today. Got there in the last jump.”
Loveberry said the pre-race scratch of multiple graded stakes winner Irish Maxima altered the race but didn’t make the outcome any easier.
“It always helps when it’s a little bit shorter field, but they still got to run the race, and we just barely got up, and she ran her heart out today.”
Miss Authentic completed the mile in 1:34.26 over a fast track and returned $15.20 to win, $5.60 to place, and $5.60 to show. Waveless paid $6.40 and $5.60, while Pink Ruby returned $5.00 to show. The $1 exacta paid $45.40, the 50-cent trifecta returned $100.15, and the 10-cent superfecta paid $56.50.
The victory improved Miss Authentic’s record to four wins from 15 starts and increased her career earnings to $292,556. Irish Maxima and Reputation were scratched.
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