Baffert, Point Given among Hall of Fame finalists

[Kasept]

Baffert among Hall of Fame finalists
By Jay Privman

http://www.drf.com/news/article/101886.html

Trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, is on the ballot for the first time as a finalist for the Hall of Fame, it was announced Tuesday by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Baffert is one of just two finalists for trainer along with the late Bob Wheeler, mirroring last year's ballot, when Wheeler was a finalist with Carl Nafzger, who was elected.

A minimum of two and maximum of four finalists can be named in four categories, according to rules currently in place by the Hall of Fame. In the other three categories, there were three finalists each. According to the Hall's current rules, only one can get in from each category, unless there is a tie for first.

Eddie Maple, Randy Romero, and Alex Solis - all of whom have been finalists before - are the jockeys up for election.

Best Pal, Point Given, and Tiznow are the finalists in the contemporary male category.

The contemporary female category numbers Open Mind, Silverbulletday, and Sky Beauty.

Baffert trained Point Given and Silverbulletday.

The 11 finalists were chosen from a pool of 91 nominees by the Hall's 16-member nominating committee. A total of 180 people will receive ballots. The winners will be inducted in Saratoga Springs on Aug. 14.