Baffert reminisces on American Pharoah's 2015 Haskell win

It’s been five years since the last time a Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old won the Haskell Stakes, a race he has dominated throughout his career since his first win in 2001, racking up eight victories.

That year he brought a special colt to the race, American Pharoah, who was fresh off a Triple Crown victory. The Haskell was a homecoming of sorts for the two-time Eclipse Champion, who would be running in front of an even more friendly crowd than usual.

“I was really nervous,” Baffert said Wednesday on a call with media members. “I was really nervous. We were all nervous. I mean, the Zayat family [American Pharoah’s owners], I think they invited like 200 of their friends. It was just big thing and I felt a lot of pressure on me.”

To increase the pressure, most of the riders had left the jockey’s room and were standing by the rail to watch the race. The stage was set for an embarrassing disappointment if the son of Pioneerof the Nile turned in a poor performance.

Baffert need not have worried. The colt got out of the gate quick and sat in second place behind Competitive Edge, then, with a burst coming around the far turn, came around the outside and took the lead at the quarter pole, then opened up a dominating 2 1/4-length victory.

“America’s horse...” race announcer Frank Mirahmadi shouted as the gap widened heading into the final stretch. “The party continues.”

Baffert said that although he loved the call and the race, he does harbor one regret from the 2015 Haskell, which served as a coronation of sorts for American Pharoah, proving that he wasn’t going to slow down after the historic Triple Crown win.

“I always told [jockey] Victor Espinoza, ‘don’t win by too much,’” Baffert said. “I should have just told him, ‘just open up the sails, let him roll in the stretch.’ He could have broken the track record that day.”

American Pharoah raced twice more after that day, capping off his career with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Baffert hasn’t won the Haskell since, though he’ll try again on Saturday with Authentic, the odds-on favorite on the morning line.

The memories of the crowd that day continue to stick with him, especially of the jockeys lined up to watch American Pharoah run.

“When I saw that, I go ‘wow man,’ Baffert said. “It was such a wonderful experience. American Pharoah brought so much joy to everyone that day.”