Baffert gets fourth shot at Triple Crown glory

ELMONT, N.Y. – Bob Baffert is hoping the fourth time is the charm.

Three times previously he has been in the exact same position he now finds himself with American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes. He won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998, and War Emblem in 2002. All three were tripped up in the final jewel of the Triple Crown, their names now part of the lengthy list of horses who have failed to complete the sweep since Affirmed became the 11th Triple Crown winner in 1978.

On Saturday, American Pharoah steps to the plate. He will either become the 12th Triple Crown winner, or the 14th horse since Affirmed – and 24th overall – who won the Derby and Preakness but did not win the Belmont.

“I never thought I’d go through this again,” Baffert said.

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Having done it three times previously, though, Baffert has not been overwhelmed by the moment. He has been in a particularly light-hearted mood in recent days, and it doesn’t seem like false bravado. Much of that, though, likely emanates from the confidence he has in American Pharoah. Baffert won’t say it publicly, but it’s pretty obvious that as good as Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and War Emblem were, American Pharoah represents his best chance to win the Triple Crown, and perhaps is the best horse he has ever trained.

“I’ve never had a horse that travels over the ground like he does,” Baffert said. “His biggest weapon is he’s fast. There’s something in there that makes him different from other horses.”

Silver Charm, Baffert’s first Derby winner, had a pair of knock-down, drag-out tussles with Captain Bodgit and Free House in the Derby and Preakness. In the Belmont, Silver Charm was locked in a battle with Free House in deep stretch when Touch Gold swooped past Silver Charm on the outside and beat him by three-quarters of a length.

“Touch Gold sort of snuck up on him,” Baffert said.

One year later, Baffert was back with Real Quiet, who defeated Victory Gallop in both the Derby and Preakness. But in the Belmont, Real Quiet squandered the four-length lead he had with a furlong to go, and Victory Gallop nosed him out at the wire.

“Real Quiet ran a great race,” Baffert said. “When he got to the lead he threw his head up. He was in front one jump before the wire and one jump after the wire. It wasn’t meant to happen.

“Real Quiet and Silver Charm could easily have been Triple Crown winners,” Baffert said.

War Emblem won both the Derby and Preakness in front-running fashion, but he stumbled badly at the start of the Belmont, advanced to a forward position, and tired in the final quarter-mile and wound up eighth in a field of 11.

“War Emblem was light,” Baffert said. “I could tell it was going to be tough on him. He had to have things his own way. He was a moody horse.

“He wasn’t strong enough. He was one-dimensional.”

When American Pharoah arrived at Belmont Park on Tuesday, Baffert said he thought the colt looked “really well for what he’s been through.” His itinerary has been compressed, with no margin for error, for months preceding the Triple Crown. After a layoff because of an injury prior to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, American Pharoah did not have his first workout of 2015 until Feb. 2, made his first start on March 14, and now will be racing for the fifth time in 12 weeks, with the final three starts, the Triple Crown races, coming at three tracks in three states at three different distances, in the space of five weeks.

“You have to earn it,” Baffert said. “If he’s a great horse, he has to do it. I’ve seen it look like you’ve got the best horse, but you just don’t know. That’s why it’s so tough.”

Baffert has won the Belmont once, in 2001 with Point Given, who was fifth in the Derby but then won the Preakness and Belmont. Of his prior Belmont starters, Point Given “was the only one who gained weight,” Baffert said.

“He got bigger and bigger,” Baffert said.

American Pharoah “was the most tired he’s been” after the Derby, Baffert said, “yet he bounced back in the Preakness.”

“I’ve never had a horse win the Preakness like that,” he said.

As for the Belmont, “the mile a half, we don’t know,” Baffert said. “That’s what this test is all about.”

A field of eight entered the Belmont on Wednesday, with American Pharoah drawing post 5. From the rail out, the field is Mubtaahij, Tale of Verve, Madefromlucky, Frammento, American Pharoah, Frosted, Keen Ice, and Materiality.

American Pharoah is the 3-5 favorite on the line set Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper. He has Materiality the second choice at 9-2, with Frosted at 5-1.

Eric Donovan, who makes the morning line at Belmont Park, also has American Pharoah at 3-5, with Frosted the second choice at 5-1 and Materiality next at 6-1.