LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Winning his first Kentucky Derby in 1997 fueled the desire of trainer Bob Baffert to do it again. He did it. Again. And again. And again. Now a four-time winner of the Derby, Baffert will go for a high five on Saturday here at Churchill Downs when he sends out the favorite, Justify, and a longshot, Solomini, in the 144th Derby. Only one trainer, Ben Jones – who won the Derby six times – has more. There are placards along a wall outside Baffert’s barn at Churchill Downs listing his accomplishments at this track, highlighted by those four Derby wins. But the signs of what he thinks of Justify are more subtle. Back home at Baffert’s base at Santa Anita, Justify resides in the stall whose most recent occupants included American Pharoah, the Triple Crown winner of 2015, and the champion colt Arrogate. Baffert gave Justify to the same groom, Eduardo “Lalo” Luna, who was entrusted with the care of American Pharoah and Arrogate. And when discussing Justify’s talent in a recent interview, Baffert three times referred to him as a “superior racehorse,” words he uttered for American Pharoah and Arrogate far deeper into their careers than the mere three starts Justify has had to date. :: View a complete list of DRF resources and content related to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 5 Does that mean Justify will emulate those two horses? That would be a tall order. But it’s clear that at this stage of Baffert’s career, having won the Derby four times, merely winning another is not enough of a goal. He’s one of only two living trainers – along with Billy Turner, who trained Seattle Slew – who have won the Triple Crown. He’s the only active trainer who has won the Triple Crown. So, he’s raised his personal bar as high as it can go. “I’m good for another 10 years,” Baffert, 65, said when asked how much longer he thought he’d train. “I feel like I’m just getting ramped up. American Pharoah, I want to do that again.” That’s the goal. Another Triple Crown. And a horizon of 10 years to do it. Starting now. It’s audacious, and probably unlikely, being as the Triple Crown has been won once since 1978. But to reach high, you first have to aim high, and that’s the challenge Baffert has put in front of himself, a goal that might be unrealistic but helps to fuel his drive. It begins with the Derby. “I’m very competitive,” he said. “I want to be there. I want to end up in that infield winner’s circle. That’s a big, expensive piece of real estate.” Prior to 2015, all three of Baffert’s Derby winners also won the Preakness and then lost the Belmont. Silver Charm and Real Quiet both suffered narrow losses, while War Emblem was eliminated the first stride out of the gate when he stumbled badly. American Pharoah won the Derby and Preakness, then added the Belmont. As Belmont track announcer Larry Collmus perfectly stated, he was “finally the one.” “The Triple Crown, that was something that was missing. Three times, they all got beat, and then to finally do it,” Baffert said, his voice trailing off. “I saw him coming down the stretch and never made a sound. I just thought to myself, ‘This is what it feels like.’ “I was waiting for it to fall apart, like the other times. Frosted was coming on, then his head went in the air, and he switched leads. He was exhausted. At that point, I became a fan. The noise was so loud. “Jill,” he said, referring to his wife, “was crying. It was very emotional. For me, it was emotional because my parents missed it, and they had something to do with it.” Baffert’s mother, Ellie, died in 2011 and his father, Bill Sr. – nicknamed “Chief” – in 2012. Both were alive for the first three Triple Crown bids and attended Baffert’s Hall of Fame induction in 2009. His first three Derby wins were a major reason Baffert got into the Hall of Fame nine years ago, about 20 years after moving full time to Thoroughbreds from Quarter Horses. Young horses, potential Derby runners, are the focal point of the barn. “It’s fun dealing with young horses, watching them develop,” Baffert said. “Having good horses, trying to see which ones will take you to the big show. I’ve got some 2-year-olds this year that look like they could be superstars. It’s like a coach who got his top three recruits. That’s what keeps me going.” :: Visit DRF's Kentucky Derby and Oaks one-stop shop for all your handicapping needs! Baffert’s best 2-year-old males last year included McKinzie, who won the Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity but was taken off the Derby trail with a minor injury last month, and Solomini, who was disqualified from victory in the Los Alamitos Futurity and has done well enough in preps this year to make the Derby as a longshot. Justify was much later to the party. He did not make his debut until Feb. 18, but in less than two months has progressed to where he will be the favorite in the Derby. Justify did his early training for Baffert at Los Alamitos under the care of assistant Mike Marlow. By the time he came to Baffert’s main barn at Santa Anita and worked for the first time there with Drayden Van Dyke aboard, Justify was held in high regard. “He had been touting himself there, and the first time he worked here, wow,” Baffert said recently at Santa Anita. “He worked a sharp five-eighths, went out in 1:13, just galloping. Drayden came back and said, ‘Man, he’s really nice.’ “The next time, we worked him from the gate and let him roll. We didn’t let him roll after that. We don’t need to. We know he’s fast.” Baffert said he “ran him into shape” with a compressed race schedule. Only 48 days after his debut, Justify beat the highly regarded Bolt d’Oro in the Santa Anita Derby. Justify, though, will be trying to become the first horse to win the Derby without racing at 2 since Apollo in 1882. Asked if trying to break that streak was a personal challenge, like winning the Triple Crown, Baffert said no. “Just going there with a horse who’s very good, having a chance with a superior racehorse,” Bafferts said. “It’s a challenge just to get there.” And he’s not worried about Apollo’s curse, believing at some point, maybe this year but certainly soon, someone will win the Derby without racing at 2. It might even be, in only his fourth start, Justify. “I don’t look at Apollo’s curse,” Baffert said. “I’d rather have the best horse than a horse who’s run 10 times.” :: View a complete list of DRF resources and content related to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 5