Baffert Seeks Sixth Preakness Triumph

The pressure is off for Bob Baffert, or so it would seem.

He accomplished his major objective last Saturday, winning the mile and a quarter Kentucky Derby with American Pharoah and finishing third with Dortmund. Next up: Saturday’s second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, a race Baffert has won five times, with Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002) and Lookin At Lucky (2010).

“They both ran their races and that’s all you can ask for,” Baffert said of American Pharoah and Dortmund. “Turning for home they were there and they ran first and third, so I was just happy and relieved that we won the Kentucky Derby.

“We won the most important race we were aiming for, so now it’s on to the Preakness. I haven’t seen anything that would tell me American Pharoah has regressed. Both horses look good, so that means they were pretty fit.

“Going into the Derby, they were well-conditioned. You have to have good horses and they have to run their race, and they both ran their races and that’s a good sign.”

Is the shorter Preakness distance of a mile and three sixteenths and a different track surface cause for concern?

“You know what?,” Baffert said. “I’ve had a lot of success in the Preakness, because I’ve won it with really good horses. I’ve always gone in there and won with the best horse, but you still have to get the trip, the post, everything. You still have to be lucky.

“I really don’t think about it until after the draw. Then you start trying to figure out strategy. The break is still the most important part. Last year with Bayern, he just got completely eliminated at the start, so you can get eliminated, forget about what kind of horse you have.

“You never know how they’re going to run. When I got there with Silver Charm, I wasn’t sure how he was going to run, but I had just won the Derby, so I felt if he wins, fine, if he doesn’t, I still won the Derby.

I feel good about our horses for the Preakness, but you still need to get around there.”

Source: Santa Anita Park