Baffert, Espinoza in Familiar Position with Pharoah
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Victor Espinoza, Bob Baffert and American Pharoah's other connections celebrate his Preakness victory. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
Back in the same position he was in last year – and in 2002 – Victor Espinoza is hoping the third time is the charm for his Triple Crown attempt.
After winning the Preakness yesterday, American Pharoah and Espinoza became the 14th pair since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978 to have a chance to break the 37-year Triple Crown drought. Of those 14, three others have belonged to American Pharoah’s trainer Bob Baffert who won the first two legs of the series with Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998, and War Emblem in 2002.
Espinoza was aboard War Emblem for his Triple Crown attempt and followed that up 12 years later with last year’s dual classic winner California Chrome, who finished fourth in the Belmont.
"I come this year with a different mind now," said Espinoza. "It's not easy, but American Pharoah, if he can do it, I'm there."
American Pharoah won’t have it easy in the last leg of the Triple Crown though. As of the morning after the Preakness, it looked like at least eight horses would enter against him with most of them bypassing the Preakness to wait for the Belmont Stakes.
Among those who ran in the Kentucky Derby are Frosted, Materiality, Carpe Diem, Keen Ice and Mubtaahij with new shooter Madefromlucky also pointing at the race. American Pharoah isn’t the only Preakness competitor looking at going to the Belmont either with runner-up Tale of Verve looking like he’ll be back for another match up as well.
"I understand," said Baffert. "It just shows the respect they have for American Pharoah. It's something you can't control. It will make an exciting race. You have to earn it, just like he earned it in that weather yesterday. I've seen a lot of great horses leave here and [lose] the Belmont - Smarty Jones, Big Brown, Real Quiet, Silver Charm, Funny Cide, I'll Have Another ... you just don't know."
AMERICAN PHAROAH IS LED INTO THE WINNER'S CIRCLE
On Monday American Pharoah will be shipping back to the place his Triple Crown dreams began, returning to Churchill Downs for a few weeks. The colt will take it easy this week before resuming more rigorous training next week.
"He’s a little quiet. He’s a little tired, like he’s supposed to be after a race. That’s usually him. Health-wise he looks good. No changes. No surprises," Baffert said
After his time at Baffert’s Churchill Downs barn, he will ship to Belmont Park on the Wednesday before the Belmont, the same as he did before the Preakness Stakes.
“It's hard for me to imagine I'm going through this again," Baffert said. “I can't believe this will be the fourth time I'm doing this, and how lucky I've been." He added. "All I can do is rely on my experience going to the next one. I know what to expect; I know how difficult it is ... with a horse like this it makes my job a lot easier. You see the way he moves; he just floats. It's just effortless."
Both Baffert and Espinoza have accomplished many things in their careers, but the Triple Crown trophy has eluded both of them so far. If there’s only one thing on their minds over the coming weeks, it’s how to best prepare their horse so they return to their California base with the Triple Crown trophy on June 6.