When the 2020 Eclipse Award finalists were announced Saturday on TVG, multiple Grade 1 winner Improbable was nominated in both the Horse of the Year and Older Dirt Male categories.
Improbable, who campaigned for the partnership of WinStar Farm, CHC Inc. and SF Racing, was retired at the end of last year and will begin stud duties this year at WinStar, where he will stand for $40,000, S&N.
During his 5-year-old season, Improbable reeled off a trio of Grade 1 wins, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of at least 105 in each race. He started the streak in the June 6 Gold Cup (G1) at Santa Anita Park, defeating Higher Power by 3 1/4-lengths. Two months later came a two-length win in the Whitney S. (G1) at Saratoga. That was followed by a powerhouse 4 1/2-length victory in the Sept. 26 Awesome Again S. (G1), also at Santa Anita Park. He finished the season with a strong second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
Improbable retires with a career mark of 7-4-0 in 15 starts and earnings of $2,729,520. He was bred in Kentucky by St. George Farm and G. Watts Humphrey.
The Eclipse Award winners will be announced on TVG, and other outlets, during a virtual ceremony of the 50th annual Eclipse Awards on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 8 p.m. ET.
