The Kentucky Derby leaderboard is heating up, and no name is larger than Bob Baffert’s. Suspended and missing from the previous three Run for the Roses, the legendary trainer is back in a big way—with seven horses in contention for this year’s Derby at Churchill Downs.

For most trainers, sending one or two top contenders to the year’s biggest race is a career pinnacle. But Baffert? He’s turning this into an all-out stable war. With Citizen Bull, Barnes, Rodriguez, and four other legitimate contenders, Baffert isn’t just looking for a seventh Derby victory—he’s attempting to make history in a manner no trainer ever has.

What’s even wilder? No trainer has ever had more than five horses in a single Derby, with Todd Pletcher, Nick Zito, and D. Wayne Lukas being the only exceptions. Bob Baffert is going to shatter that record, demonstrating once more that when he’s playing the game, he’s playing on a different level.

Baffert’s stacked Derby roster—a path to history

The Kentucky Derby standings are loaded with talent, but Baffert’s squad looks like a championship-winning roster. His most formidable rival, Citizen Bull, has already made some noise by winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and beginning his three-year-old season by romping in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. He’s becoming one of the top Derby favorites and has the kind of momentum that makes him a dangerous force on race day.

And then there’s Barnes, the $3.2 million colt who has already demonstrated an ability to handle the pressure of Churchill Downs. A winner of the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes, he’s positioning himself as Bob Baffert’s best ammunition for the San Felipe Stakes, a key prep for Derby aspirants. Rodriguez, meanwhile, an Authentic son, has been knocking on the door of significant wins, finishing second to Citizen Bull. If he turns the tables in the San Felipe, Baffert could have several big guns leading the Derby charge in no time.

And the depth doesn’t end there. Getaway Car has been one of Baffert’s most consistent three-year-olds, recently showing his mettle by taking the Sunland Park Derby. Madaket Road, Cornucopian, and Gaming complete the trainer’s deep roster, each with a realistic shot to make the cut. Should Baffert get all seven horses in the starting gate, it will be a Derby first, as no trainer has come close to having that many entrants at one time.

Chasing history—can Bob Baffert shatter all Derby records?

Baffert’s Churchill Downs supremacy is already beyond dispute, but what he’s attempting to accomplish this year is next-level historic. With six Derby wins already in the bank, he’s already tied for most wins by any trainer, along with Ben Jones. If one of his horses wins on May 3rd, Baffert will be the outright winningest trainer in Derby history. But that’s not the only record on the table. No trainer has ever entered more than five horses in a single Derby, and Baffert is going to break that record by a wide margin. By entering seven horses in the fray, he’s not competing as much as rewriting the way trainers approach the most important race in horse racing. Though trainers like Todd Pletcher, Nick Zito, and D. Wayne Lukas have sent multiple runners to the Derby in past years, none of them have ever approached Bob Baffert’s level of firepower in one race.

Beyond the numbers, this Derby is also a redemption Derby. Having sat out the last three due to suspension, Baffert is back with a vengeance, seeking to reclaim his spot at the sport’s top. The most recent time he was in the winner’s circle at the Derby was with Medina Spirit in 2021, a victory that was later rescinded due to a medication violation. With that cloud still hovering over his legacy, a clean and decisive victory this year would be a statement—Baffert isn’t just back; he’s still the best in the sport.

The return of Kentucky Derby Bob Baffert is more than one race. With seven horses in the run, the chance to be the most winning derby Trainer, and the potential to overcome records that no coach closed to, it is his chance to strengthen his heritage forever in sports. However, the history journey will not be easy with colleagues with elite competitors Brad Cox, Todd Pletcher, and Bill Motto also in a mix. 151. Kentucky Derby is formed as a clearing for ages, and Baffert prepares to be his most memorable.