NTRA release

Three-time Kentucky Derby winning trainer Bob Baffert, along with two of his greatest equine charges, are among two trainers, three jockeys, and six horses to be selected as the 2009 finalists for election to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame.

The 11 finalists, determined by a vote of the Hall of Fame Nominating Committee, are:

Contemporary female horses:  Open Mind, Silverbulletday, Sky Beauty.
Contemporary male horses: Best Pal, Point Given, Tiznow.
Jockeys: Eddie Maple, Randy Romero, Alex Solis.
Trainers: Bob Baffert, Robert Wheeler.

Among the Thoroughbred are two Baffert trainess: Silverbulletday and Point Given.

Silverbulletday was the champion 2-year-old filly of 1998 and the champion 3-year-old filly of 1999. She won 15 of 23 career starts and compiled purse earnings of $3,093,207. Her victories included the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, Ashland, Kentucky Oaks, Alabama and Gazelle.

Point Given compiled a record of  9-3-0  and earnings of $3,968,500 from 13 starts in 2000 and 2001. He was Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old of 2001. At two, the son of Thunder Gulch was second in the Champagne and the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile before his victory in the Hollywood Futurity. He opened his 3-year-old season with victories in the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby. He finished fifth as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby then won the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes, the Haskell Invitational and the Travers.

To be eligible, trainers must be licensed and actively involved with Thoroughbreds for 25 years or have been retired for a minimum of five years; jockeys must be licensed for 20 years or have been retired for a minimum of five years; horses must be retired for five full calendar years.

In early March, the approximately 180 members of the Hall of Fame Voting Panel will receive a ballot and an information packet on each of the finalists. The voters will be asked to select one name in each category. The individual with the highest number of votes in each category will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday, Aug. 14, 2009 in Saratoga Springs.