Authentic's Owners, Asmussen, Ortiz Jr. on Top in 2020

Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing—the ownership group that campaigned Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Authentic over the final portion of 2020—finished the year as leading owner by North American earnings, according to final statistics released by Equibase.

Irad Ortiz Jr. repeated as the top-earning jockey and Steve Asmussen was the top money-earning trainer after finishing second the two previous years.

Sortable North American leaders' lists that include all trainers, jockeys, owners, and horses are available within the statistical section at equibase.com. 

Authentic, who won five of his seven races, led all Thoroughbreds in North American earnings with $7,170,000.  In addition to his wins in the Derby and Classic, Authentic won the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), the San Felipe Stakes (G2), and Sham Stakes (G3) and finished second in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1). 

Completing the list of top 10 horses by North American earnings were Tiz the Law  with $2,388,300, Tarnawa with $2,080,000, Improbable  with $1,810,000, Swiss Skydiver with $1,791,820, Mucho Gusto with $1,674,000, Monomoy Girl with $1,472,068, Whitmore with $1,426,500, Essential Quality with $1,335,144, and Vequist with $1,235,500.  

Some of the leading horses also were the top earners from their respective foal crops. The leading earners by foaling year from the past five years were Essential Quality (by Tapit , 2018 foal crop), Authentic (by Into Mischief , 2017), Improbable (by City Zip, 2016), Vino Rosso  (by Curlin , 2015), and Bricks and Mortar (by Giant's Causeway, 2014). 

The partnership of Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing, which campaigned Authentic for the colt's final four races, earned $6,790,000 in North America in 2020 to lead all owners. Completing the list of top 10 owners by North American earnings in 2020 were Godolphin, $5,703,770 (80 wins, 361 starts);  Klaravich Stables, $5,323,398 (70/272); Gary Barber, $4,010,838 (59/377); Three Diamonds Farm, $3,869,111 (51/282); Calumet Farm, $3,657,128 (59/531); Juddmonte Farms, $3,387,810 (30/122); End Zone Athletics, $2,867,917 (163/801); Sackatoga Stable, $2,510,400 (6/18); and Lothenbach Stables (Bob Lothenbach), $2,469,686 (54/388).

Asmussen, who also led all trainers in earnings in 2008 and 2009, sent out the winners of 422 races from 630 starters with 2,278 starts for earnings of $20,204,064 in 2020. Brad Cox finished second with his horses having won 216 races from 328 starters with 903 starts for earnings of $18,983,832.  

Completing the list of top 10 trainers by North American earnings in 2020 were Bob Baffert, $18,923,887 (94 wins/323 starts/118 starters); Chad Brown, $16,596,956 (174/746/288); Michael Maker, $14,215,671 (270/1,428/431); Mark Casse, $11,393,960 (183/1,185/351); Todd Pletcher, $11,200,790 (190/ 870/ 310); William I. Mott, $9,467,346 (92/589/184); Christophe Clement, $6,227,813 (101/499/175); and Peter Miller, $6,134,655 (106/500/148).

Ortiz Jr., who last year set a single-season earnings record, reached the winner's circle 300 times from 1,266 mounts in 2020 and earned $21,050,726. Finishing second was Joel Rosario with 194 wins from 1,052 mounts and earnings of $18,235,197. 

Rounding out the list of top 10 jockeys by North American earnings in 2020 were Luis Saez, $16,511,372 (268 wins/1,398 starts); Tyler Gaffalione, $15,612,262 (271/1,408); John Velazquez, $15,420,515 (101/662); Florent Geroux, $14,766,563 (160/861); Jose L. Ortiz, $13,811,296 (190/1,027); Ricardo Santana Jr., $12,793,803 (176/1,057); Javier Castellano, $12,461,620 (108/640); and Manuel Franco, $12,278,857 (140/1,011).