Time – and distance – were on the side of Honor A. P. on Saturday in the Santa Anita Derby in his rivalry with Authentic. Honor A. P. came up short of catching Authentic in the 1 1/16-mile San Felipe Stakes back in March, but when they went 1 1/8 miles three months later, it was Honor A. P. who was the superior animal. He powered clear to a 2 3/4-length victory in the Grade 1, $401,000 race while looking like the one who will be more appreciative of even more distance, and more time. His sights are clearly set on the Kentucky Derby. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2020: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more Honor A. P. stamped himself as one of the top contenders for the Derby, a race for which he earned 100 points on Saturday on the system used by Churchill Downs to determine the Derby field. The Derby won’t be run until Sept. 5, and it’s at 1 1/4 miles, all of which should benefit him. “Distance is something he certainly appreciates,” his trainer, John Shirreffs, said Saturday after the race. Honor A.P. ($6.40), the second choice, rallied strongly while going around horses on the far turn, pulled away through the lane, and galloped out with enthusiasm. He completed 1 1/8 miles on the fast main track in 1:48.97 while giving Shirreffs his third win in the West’s premier race for 3-year-olds. Authentic, unbeaten in three starts, was favored at 1-2. Breaking from the outside post in the field of seven, he veered out when the gate opened, then took up a stalking position outside Shooters Shoot through an opening quarter in 23.07 seconds and half-mile in 46.88 seconds. Honor A.P., under Mike Smith, was fifth, but was in close pursuit, following Authentic. Shooters Shoot led narrowly after six furlongs in 1:10.97, but Authentic loomed up to take a brief lead on the far turn. By then, though, Honor A.P. was rolling, now four paths wide. Authentic could not stay with Honor A. P. through the lane, but he held second by 1 1/4 lengths over Rushie. Anneau d’Or, Shooters Shoot, Friar’s Road, and Azul Coast completed the finish, in that order. The win was the second in four starts for Honor A. P. He was second sprinting in his debut, beat maidens going two turns in his second start, then was second in the San Felipe following a layoff of nearly five months. “I’m really excited about his race,” Shirreffs said. “He broke well. Mike was very tactical with him. He asked him to get position, got him into a good rhythm down the backstretch.” Shirreffs said he would discuss the route to the Derby with Lee Searing, who owns Honor A. P. with his wife, Susan, under their CRK Stable banner. He’ll have at least one more race before the Derby, Shirreffs said, but what they choose is yet to be discussed. “One day at a time,” Shirreffs said. :: Belmont Stakes news, contenders, and more The Searings purchased Honor A. P., a ridgling by Honor Code, as a yearling for $850,000. Authentic suffered the first loss of his career. It has been a rough go lately for his trainer, Bob Baffert, who in the past two weeks had significant setbacks with both his Arkansas Derby divisional winners, Nadal – who was retired – and Charlatan, who Baffert said on Saturday would miss the Belmont, scheduled for June 20, and the Derby. Authentic “came up a little short,” said Baffert, who said Authentic “took a lot on early.” “I didn’t like the outside post,” Baffert said. “He broke out and came back in, he was wide. I knew there was a lot of speed. He wasn’t ready for something like that. “He’ll move forward. The winner is a good horse.” - additional reporting by Steve Andersen