LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The backstretch at Churchill Downs is a magical place throughout Kentucky Derby week. Huge-name trainers speaking to well-heeled homeowners, media haplessly standing round hoping to seize a quote or a fast stand-up interview. But an important a part of this annual carnival of horsedom is that one of many occupants would be the subsequent winner of the Kentucky Derby.
Not the entire 1,500 horses stabled are eligible to race within the Kentucky Derby. Actually, solely 20 of them make the beginning gate and also you solely get one likelihood — when they’re a 3-year-old.
However if you’re on the lookout for a particular place, look no additional than Barn 33. What makes it stand out is that’s the place method too many individuals congregate, hoping to both discuss to, snap an image with or interview essentially the most well-known particular person in racing, coach Bob Baffert.
Should you’re not sure it’s Baffert’s barn, simply take a look at the outside wall of the barn the place six indicators cling, one for every of Baffert’s Derby wins: Silver Allure (1997), Actual Quiet (1998), Conflict Emblem (2002), American Pharoah (2015), Justify (2018) and Genuine (2020).
These indicators have been in storage for the final three years after Baffert was banned from all Churchill Downs-owned tracks after 2021 winner Medina Spirit — subsequently disqualified — examined constructive for a authorized substance that’s not allowed on race day. Baffert was reinstated after he accepted duty for the constructive take a look at and all authorized challenges had been exhausted.
“I’m so happy to be back and be here,” Baffert mentioned after the group had dispersed and all that was left had been two reporters. “And I’ve gotten a warm welcome from everybody, especially from this town, everywhere I go. And it’s good to see the signs back up, all my greatest achievements are on this wall in here. It’s good to see all that.”
It wasn’t Baffert’s first time again. He confirmed up unannounced on Nov. 27 to see one among his then 2-year-olds, Barnes, run his first race.
If there may be any lingering resentment towards Churchill Downs from Baffert, you couldn’t inform it from his feedback.
“It’s a very important race,” Baffert mentioned. “It’s a bucket list kind of race and so it’s very important that the Derby is a success and that people show up and watch it. It keeps the game going. I can’t imagine racing without a Kentucky Derby. It’s our Masters. It’s the race that defines your career.”
The primary two years of the suspension, Baffert transferred his most promising horses to Tim Yakteen, his former assistant. However Churchill saved shifting the goalposts on when the switch needed to happen. Within the third 12 months, Baffert’s greatest homeowners determined simply to skip the Derby in help of him.
“I think we found out last year that the Derby’s going to be a success with or without Bob Baffert,” the coach mentioned. “It’s all about the horses. It’s about 20 horses running, and a lot of people don’t even know [who is or isn’t in the race]. But the locals know.”
The supply of all the difficulty was a medicine referred to as betamethasone, which Baffert has steadfastly argued was administered in an ointment for a rash on Medina Spirit’s hindquarters. The principles seem to have been written for injections, not ointments. And that was the crux of the problem.
“There’s a rule that it just cannot be in [the horse on race day] no matter what,” Baffert mentioned. “So, unfortunately, that’s why we tested it and they found out the stuff was in the ointment. What’s that phrase that I hate? Once the toothpaste is out of the tube, you can’t put it back in. Until they figure that out … that damn toothpaste got us.”
Coach Bob Baffert talks to guests exterior his barn at Churchill Downs on Tuesday.
(Charlie Riedel / Related Press)
Requested what he would have completed completely different 4 years in the past, Baffert supplied an Occam’s razor form of reply.
“I wish I had left that damn ointment at Santa Anita and then everything would have been fine,” he mentioned. “That’s what we would have done. I don’t know how we missed that, but we missed it.”
Baffert believes that form of mistake wouldn’t have occurred in the present day since horse racing treatment is now regulated by the Horseracing Integrity and Security Authority (HISA).
“If HISA had been in place, it would have never happened because now you have to really be so careful,” Baffert mentioned. “If HISA would have been in place, it would have never gotten on him because we would have gone through everything, and we just missed it then. I just took my eyes off the ball for just a minute and we all missed it. It was a ridiculous, unnecessary positive.”
For a couple of week, Baffert was the one coach to win the Kentucky Derby seven occasions, having surpassed Ben Jones, who gained his final one in 1952. So, Baffert is once more tied for the all-time report.
He has two horses in Saturday’s race. There may be Citizen Bull, who has the unlucky first submit, and Rodriguez, who isn’t too far-off within the fourth submit. Citizen Bull (20-1 morning line) has gained 4 of his six races together with the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. He was additionally gained the Eclipse Award for greatest 2-year-old male. Expectations had been excessive till he ran a disappointing fourth within the Santa Anita Derby.
Rodriguez (12-1) has gained two of 5 however made his mark with an easy 3 ½-length win within the Wooden Memorial at Aqueduct. It could not be a shock to see Rodriguez on or close to the lead within the 1 ¼-mile race, particularly with Corridor of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard.
Baffert’s affect may also be discovered within the breeding for this race with six having been sired by horses that Baffert has educated. There are two American Pharoahs (Luxor Café and Writer), a Justify (American Promise), an Genuine (Rodriguez), a McKinzie (Baeza, if he makes the sector) and a Drefong (Admire Daytona).
“I’ve had a lot of horses that were good horses but you just don’t know if they’re going to be sires or not,” Baffert mentioned. “That’s the beauty of this game, nobody’s figured it out. There’s no book, there’s no figuring it out.”
If Baffert, at 72, hasn’t figured it out, it’s unclear if anybody has all of the solutions. However, he’s nonetheless going to be looking out with no retirement on the horizon.
“It’s the challenge that keeps me going,” he mentioned. “I feel like the glasses are still half full. So, as long as I keep enjoying it, I’ll keep doing it. When it makes me bitter, then I’ll let you know.
“Racing has changed. It’s different now. It’s being really regulated, and so we have to be really careful with everything. You’re always worried. I never had to worry about a test until now. And HISA is doing a better job. To me, if there’s intent [to cheat], boom, get them out of here. If there’s no intent, it’s contamination levels, which ours was, and they actually raised [the number] a little bit, so [the Medina Spirit sample] wouldn’t be a positive today, so that’s good. So, good things will come out of it.”
In fact, he’s hoping one thing good comes out of Saturday’s race. And, perhaps there will likely be a seventh signal on his barn wall.
