Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Authentic among 2020 leaders
Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Authentic, considered the frontrunner for Horse of the Year, was among the most successful racehorses of 2020. However, many of his human connections were edged out on the season’s final leaderboards, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. and trainer Steve Asmussen again leading the nation by both wins and earnings.
According to Equibase statistics, Ortiz led all North American riders by both earnings, with $21,050,726, and wins, with 300, including two wins in Puerto Rico. He outpaced Joel Rosario ($18,235,197) and Tyler Gaffalione (271), respectively, in those categories. This is the fourth straight year Ortiz, the two-time defending Eclipse Award outstanding jockey, has led by wins, and the third straight time by earnings.
Hall of Famer Asmussen led the nation by earnings for the third time in his career, with $20,204,064. Behind him, Brad Cox ($18,983,832) edged Bob Baffert ($18,923,887) in a tight battle for second. Both Cox and Baffert are likely to have multiple Eclipse Award champions this season, with Baffert training Authentic.
Asmussen also led the continent by wins, with 422 to 327 for Karl Broberg. This was the 10th time since 2000 he has led that category.
Authentic’s ownership makeup shifted midcampaign, with Spendthrift Farm purchasing his majority interest and campaigning him with MyRacehorse, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing through four starts, with victories in the Haskell Invitational, Derby, and Classic, and a runner-up effort in the Preakness Stakes. Those four starts, which included a $1 million bonus for Authentic’s three wins, were enough to make that particular group leading owner by earnings, with $6,790,000 to Godolphin’s $5,703,770. By wins, End Zone Athletics was the leading owner with 163. Meanwhile, according to Equineline statistics updated through Dec. 30, Calumet Farm was on pace to edge WinStar Farm as leading breeder by earnings, $9,741,499 to $9,225,856. When partnerships were factored in, WinStar led, $11,700,844 to $9,841,667.
Overall, Authentic earned $7,170,000 on the season, which, even excluding the bonus, easily outpaced fellow classic winner Tiz the Law with $2,388,300. However, a quintet of blue-collar horses were the winningest overall. Hunka Burning Love, Galerio, Frost Or Frippery, Combination, and Greeleys Charm each won eight races in 2020. Most were lowerlevel. However, Hunka Burning Love, trained by Broberg for End Zone Athletics, won the Lone Star Mile and Delta Mile at the eponymous tracks, and the Governor’s Cup and Jeffrey A. Hawk Memorial at Remington.