Baffert savors journey with another Triple Crown in reach
The only thing Bob Baffert wanted to do in horse racing was win the Triple Crown.
Been there, done that in 2015 with American Pharoah.
Now, the white-haired trainer is back with another chance to saddle a colt to a sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.
Justify could become racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner and second in four years if he wins the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.
“I’ve won it so I’m actually going to enjoy this a little bit more,” Baffert said.
Don’t mistake Baffert’s California cool for nonchalance.
He’s on top of every little detail involving Justify: workouts, eating, the colt’s health, and how he acts around the barn.
“He always puts his horses first,” said Dale Romans, who plans to saddle Free Drop Billy in the Belmont. “He’s just got that sixth sense about him.”
Baffert arrived in Southern California from his home state of Arizona in the 1980s, switching from quarter horses to thoroughbreds.
Long before he had good horses of his own, he would pick the brains of legendary trainers like Charlie Whittingham.
“I’m not bashful about asking questions,” Baffert said. “Something that took them 20 years I can learn it in two minutes. I have all this information stored up in my brain. I know what I need to do.” It showed in 2015. American Pharoah ended a 37-year drought when he accomplished one of sports’ toughest feats. Until he did, there was talk of changing the Triple Crown format of three races in five weeks at three tracks. People said it was too hard, a reason why it hadn’t been done since Affirmed in 1978.
“I said, ‘Man, I hope they don’t change it,”’ Baffert said. “I want to do it before they change it because it won’t mean anything.”
He had missed on three previous Triple tries: Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002), all derailed in the Belmont.
“They didn’t get it done because they were getting tired,” he said. “We’ve seen so many great horses get beat because they get tired.”
Now, it’s Justify’s turn to take a shot.
The chestnut colt wasn’t even Baffert’s top Kentucky Derby hopeful this year. That role belonged to McKinzie, who got injured in March and couldn’t run in the Santa Anita Derby. Justify won that race, instantly inserting him into Derby contention.
Justify won the Kentucky Derby just 77 days after making his racing debut in midFebruary. He didn’t compete as a 2-year-old, partly because of a pulled muscle that delayed his progress. He won the Derby and Preakness on sloppy tracks, and rain is forecast for Saturday.
To complete the Triple Crown, Justify will have to run 1 ½ miles in the Belmont, the longest of the three races. If successful, he would join Seattle Slew as the only unbeaten Triple Crown winners.