For those passionate about horse racing, the name Bob Baffert likely resonates, especially with his remarkable comeback in the spotlight. The suspension has been lifted, allowing the 72-year-old horse trainer to resume running his horses at Churchill Downs. Nonetheless, criticisms were undoubtedly directed at Baffert, yet a considerable number of horse racing enthusiasts have rallied to his defense.

On X, VSiN’s official profile highlighted a conversation featuring Aaron Halterman and Mike Somich. The two horse racing analysts expressed nothing but admiration for someone like Baffert.

Halterman expressed his perspective on this significant event in horse racing, remarking, “Whether you love or hate Bob Baffert, here’s the deal: he is kind of the face of horse racing. He is the guy that, hey, you go to your next-door neighbor that’s never seen horse racing before, and you show him a picture of Bob Baffert; he’ll know who Bob Baffert is. So from a marketing standpoint, it’s great to have him back, and it’s great to have him back and have these elite horses that actually are going to point for the first Saturday in May instead of some other race.”

The analyst is correct; that is the extent of Bob Baffert’s influence in the realm of horse racing. Baffert has produced numerous champion horses throughout his career, and even now, he remains relentless in his quest for that seventh Kentucky Derby title.

Additionally, Mike Somich shared a comparable viewpoint on Baffert, remarking, “Yeah, love him or hate him. He’s an important part of the Kentucky Derby. We’ve seen him had a ton of success here with both long shots and favorites. The last two triple crown winners, both Bob Baffert horses as well. So nice to see him back at Churchill Downs. We’ll see what he’s able to do with this year’s crop.”

Who are the two Triple Crown winners in question? In 2015, American Pharoah achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first horse in 37 years to secure the Triple Crown, breaking the long-standing drought that began with Affirmed in 1978. A horse trained by Baffert triumphed in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, subsequently securing a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, thereby achieving the unprecedented “Grand Slam” in American horse racing.

In 2018, Justify etched his name in history as the 13th horse to clinch the prestigious Triple Crown. The horse maintained an unblemished record throughout his career, triumphing over the so-called “Curse of Apollo” by clinching victory at the Kentucky Derby, a remarkable achievement for one who had not raced as a two-year-old, a milestone not reached since 1882. This year, Baffert continues to showcase a strong lineup of horses for the Road to the Kentucky Derby, with ambitious plans for two of his contenders in the upcoming weeks.

Bob Baffert keeping an eye on his contenders

The Kentucky Derby involves several horses competing. Bob Baffert consistently seizes opportunities to allow his stable to demonstrate their value on the track. At the recent Virginia Derby, expectations were high for Getaway Car, yet the colt fell short of the trainer’s hopes. According to a recent update from @sdhorserace on X, “Trainer Bob Baffert worked Barnes and Gaming Monday at @santaanitapark. Barnes posted a 6-furlong bullet in 1:11.8 (1/4) while Gaming fired a 5-furlong bullet in :59. (1/76). Baffert says he’ll know more next week as to where his Derby contenders will run next.”

The last event for Gaming at the Southwest Stakes was an absolute disaster. Nonetheless, given that Getaway Car did not perform strongly at the Virginia Derby, it seems Baffert is considering offering Gaming a prime opportunity. The three-year-old colt showcased remarkable performance during the practice session at Santa Anita, recording a time of :59 for his 5-furlong workout.

Barnes delivered an impressive performance, clocking in at 1:11.8 during a 6-furlong outing. Given his impressive history, it seems likely that Baffert will prefer him to compete more leading up to the Kentucky Derby. The decision of the trainer regarding these horses remains to be seen, as does the lineup at the starting gates of the esteemed race.