Bob Baffert likely to field another Kentucky Derby favorite in American Pharoah
Most fans know that Bob Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby three times. But did you know that his record with the post-time Derby favorite is 0-for-6?
When I read that stat, I was incredulous. But it’s true.
His three Derby winners — Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002) — also won the Preakness. Thus, Baffert had three shots at winning sport’s most elusive trophy — the Triple Crown. But those three were unable to close the deal in the Belmont Stakes.
The Baffert-beaten favorites are a who’s who in racing. Indian Charlie (1997), the entry of Excellent Meeting and General Challenge (1999), Point Given (2001), Lookin at Lucky (2010) and Bodemeister (2012) actually make up six horses in five betting interests.
But I’m not bashing Baffert. It takes a great trainer, no, a Hall of Fame trainer, to have that many chances.
It’s not as if the Baffert barn is the Buffalo Bills of horse racing. His resume from 24 Derby starters is three wins, three seconds and two thirds.
Compare that to Todd Pletcher. He has started 40 horses in the Derby with one winner, Super Saver (2010), and no post-time favorites.
To go off as the Derby favorite means you’ve done something big to earn that honor.
Which brings us to the present. The Baffert-trained American Pharoah will enter the Derby starting gate as the favorite, as long as he doesn’t draw the one post.
His wins in the Arkansas Derby, Rebel, FrontRunner and Del Mar Futurity were breathtakingly easy. Put them together and you have a fast horse who leaves scorched earth behind him. He’s never been tested in the stretch, though, because no other horse has been able to get close to him.
Baffert will have two others starters in the undefeated Dortmund and One Lucky Dane.
Dortmund has been battle tested, for sure. Before winning the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby, he beat Firing Line by a head twice in the Los Alamitos Futurity and Robert Lewis.
Firing Line showed his mettle by winning the Sunland Derby by almost 15 lengths, eased up.
So if American Pharoah is poetry in motion, Dortmund is a drop your gloves hockey fighter who enjoys a good brawl.
The third Baffert horse is the late developing One Lucky Dane. His second in the Santa Anita Derby was a breakthrough kind of race. Note that two of Baffert’s Derby winners — Real Quiet and Silver Charm — also placed in the Santa Anita Derby.
Thus, if Dortmund or One Lucky Dane were to upset in Louisville, Ky., you’ll be sure to hear mumbling about “the other Baffert” winning another big race.
MINE THAT BIRD — If you want to get your Kentucky Derby mojo going, may I suggest seeing the fine movie “50 to 1.” It is based on the improbable 2009 win by Mine That Bird. The DVD will be available to the public on April 28. To me, Mine That Bird is the biggest upset in Derby history. He should have gone off at least at 100-1.
SHARED BELIEF — The best horse in training, Shared Belief, will make his first start outside of California on Saturday in the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic. He looks every bit of the 2-5 morning-line chalk to win.
Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He can be reached at rich_eng@hotmail.com. Follow him on Twitter: @richeng4propick.
