Baffert talks Derby 1-2 with American Pharoah, Dortmund

Bob Baffert held court the day after his Derby runners were made the morning-line favorites (Bob Newell/Horsephotos.com)

Because his colts American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and Dortmund (Big
Brown) are the 5-2 first and 3-1 second choices on the Kentucky Derby (G1) morning-line, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert spent time Thursday morning
answering questions about a 1-2 finish. That ended up as a prime topic after the
colts galloped 1 1/2 miles over Churchill Downs main track.

It has been 67 years since stablemates Citation and Coaltown made
Derby history with their top-two finish in 1948. Baffert threatened to match
that result in 1998 when Real Quiet was first and Indian Charlie was third.

“Turning for home they were 1-2. It was a really good feeling that
I had,” Baffert said. “Victory Gallop came and split us at the end. He could
have easily won. He had a tough trip.

Dortmund galloped at Churchill on Thursday… (Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com)

Baffert never really got away from the subject as he discussed his
two stars. Dortmund is unbeaten in six starts, while American Pharoah has reeled off four straight wins after losing badly
in this debut last summer. American Pharoah emerged as the Derby favorite with
the apparent ease in which he posted an eight-length victory in the Arkansas
Derby (G1) on April 11.

“I don’t know what was behind him in the Arkansas Derby,” Baffert said.
“Dortmund has been running against better horses. I think the California horses
are pretty tough this year. I watch them work at Santa Anita. We know that
Pharoah is a brilliant horse from what he did in California in the morning. But
they are both good horses. They are pretty close.”

After joking that he didn’t know how it feels to win the Derby
because it has been so long since he earned his third in 2002, Baffert said he
was in a special situation with two standouts.

“It’s incredible. I’m so fortunate,” he said. “Something just worked out. I
believe in fate and I believe that something really good is about to happen, or
else it’s going to be disappointing. It’s something we just have to wait to see
it happen. Destiny.”

…as did his stablemate American Pharaoh (Bob Newell/Horsephotos.com)

“These horses have to get their trips,” he stated. “Maybe Dortmund is the
horse. We don’t know. I don’t know how good he is. And the farther the better
it’s going to be for him. He loves this track. He’s tough.

“We know Pharoah is brilliant from what he’s done. He gallops around there
and he really hasn’t had to break a sweat.”

Baffert acknowledged that he hasn’t seen either of his colts
breathing hard or tired after training or a race.

“I’m sitting on these two outstanding individuals,” he
said. “So I feel like I’ve got the No. 1 and the No. 2 in the draft. I’ve got
Winston and Mariota in my barn here.”

Baffert was back to the first and second question and
whether his horses could get the top two spots.