LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Bob Baffert was a big-shot quarter horse trainer when he took his cowboy hat and scuffed boots to the high-class world of thoroughbred racing. He gave himself three years to make a splash. After a slow start and some embarrassing losses, he found his footing.
Now the Hall of Famer is saddling the top two favorites for the Kentucky Derby. Heady stuff for the kid who grew up watching the race on television in his border hometown of Nogales, Arizona.
“Destiny,” he jokingly proclaimed Thursday outside his cement-block barn at Churchill Downs.
Baffert has early 5-2 favorite American Pharoah and 3-1 second choice Dortmund in what some believe is the strongest 1-2 punch since trainer Ben Jones won with Citation and finished second with Coaltown in 1948.
“I’ve got (Jameis) Winston and (Marcus) Mariota in my barn,” Baffert said, referencing the likely top two picks in the NFL draft. “I’d love to see them 1-2 turning for home and then see what they’re made of.”