Baffert stable wins four Eclipse Awards, including Horse of the Year

Authentic’s Horse of the Year Award topped a stellar night at the Eclipse Awards for the Bob Baffert stable. The barn was awarded four awards at the ceremony which was held virtually and hosted by Spendthrift Farm on Jan. 28.

Fittingly, Authentic, who is owned by Spendthrift, along with MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stable and Starlight Stable, won both the Horse of the Year and 3-year-old Male awards. Authentic won three Grade 1 races during 2020: the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Kentucky Derby and Haskell Inv. He retired following the Breeders’ Cup and is beginning his stud career this year at Spendthrift.

“This is a big deal for me. I wish all owners could have the same experience and I’m happy to be a part of this,” said Spendthrift owner B. Wayne Hughes. “I think his [stud] career is going to be great. But who knows, God’s in charge of that.” 

Authentic is Baffert’s fourth Horse of the Year; following Justify (2018), American Pharoah (2015) and Point Given in 2001. Baffert now has 10 3-year-old male champions, no other trainer has more than two.

One of the horses Authentic defeated for Horse of the Year was his stablemate Improbable, who would earn his own Eclipse when named the top Older Dirt Male. Like Authentic, Improbable won three Grade 1s in 2020: Gold Cup, Whitney and Awesome Again. He also finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and was likewise retired and will be standing stud at WinStar Farm, who co-owns the now 6-year-old with CHC Inc. and SF Racing.

Improbable is Baffert’s first Eclipse winner in the Older Dirt Male category.

Baffert’s final winner on the evening was the brilliantly-fast 3-year-old filly Gamine, who won the Female Sprinter Eclipse. Another three-time Grade 1 winner, Gamine won the Test, Acorn and Breeder’s Cup Filly and Mare Sprint by a combined 32 lengths.

Unlike her former stablemates, she is scheduled to return to racing for the 2021 season

“She is a once in a lifetime horse, at least in my mind,” said Gamine’s owner Michael Lund Petersen. “I couldn’t be more grateful for being a part of a fantastic team, I never dreamt I would be getting an award like this.”

The Eclipse for Female Sprinter was first awarded in 2007. Baffert’s Indian Blessing won the award the following year.