Authentic, Improbable named HOY Finalists

Authentic and Improbable, both trained by Bob Baffert, were named 2020 Horse of the Year Eclipse Award finalists when the nominees were announced Saturday on TVG. 

Those were just two of Baffert’s five nominees this year, along with Gamine in both the 3-year-old Filly and Female Sprinter categories, Maximum Security for Older Male, and Nadal in the 3-year-old Male category. Likewise, Improbable is a finalist for Older Male, and Authentic joins Nadal in the 3-year-old Male division.

Baffert himself is also a finalist for trainer of the year. He has won the award on four previous occasions, most recently in 2015 when American Pharoah won Horse of the Year. 

Authentic, who won both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), is a prohibitive favorite to collect both honors he is in eligible for, while Maximum Security and Improbable are solid chances to win Older Male. 

Gamine, who was brilliant all year long and beat older mares in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1), has a solid chance to collect that award. 

In 2020, Baffert had his second-best year of his career in terms of money won, at nearly $19 million. From Mucho Gusto winning the Pegasus World Cup (G1) in January to Charlatan in the Malibu S. (G1) in December, Baffert’s barn had nine Grade 1 winners at nine different tracks across the country.

Eclipse Award winners will be announced on TVG, and other outlets, during a virtual ceremony of the 50th annual Eclipse Awards to be hosted by Spendthrift Farm on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. ET.