Baffert, American Pharoah, Dortmund named Eclipse Award Finalists

Bob Baffert, along with his talented duo of 3-year-old colts American Pharoah and Dortmund, were named Eclipse Award finalists when nominees were announced Wednesday morning from Gulfstream Park. The Eclipse champions will be announced during a ceremony at Gulfstream Jan. 16.

For Baffert, a win would be the fourth award for the Hall of Fame trainer, who won three straight from 1997-1999. Baffert finished third in money won in 2015, with $16,221,741 in purses, with Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner American Pharoah’s historic year leading the charge.

American Pharoah is nominated for both Horse of the Year and 3-year-old male honors, and is almost a certain winner in both categories. 

Though Dortmund was overshadowed by his stablemate, he managed to have an outstanding year in his own right, winning the Santa Anita Derby (G1), San Felipe S. (G2), Robert Lewis S. (G3) and Native Diver S. (G3), as well as finishing third in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

Baffert’s other top winners in 2015 include Callback in the Las Virgenes (G1), Mor Spirit in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) and Hoppertunity in the San Pasqual (G2).