Baffert Pair Primed for Next Tests

By Christie DeBernardis

Todd Pletcher may have six strong GI Kentucky Derby contenders on his hands, but it is Bob Baffert who is in the enviable position of conditioning the two early Derby favorites in champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and the undefeated Dortmund (Big Brown). 

“They are both outstanding 3-year-olds and I feel so fortunate,” the Hall of Famer remarked on an NTRA teleconference Tuesday. “I can’t believe I have two horses like that in the same year, like I did with Congaree and Point Given [in 2001]. They are both really solid, but they have totally different types of styles. Dortmund is a taller horse, but not by a lot. Pharoah is starting to grow. They are just two different types of horses and it is sort of hard to compare them.” 

A decisive debut winner at Santa Anita Nov. 2, Dortmund earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status after an impressive allowance victory from the 12-hole going Churchill Downs’s one-turn mile Nov. 29. The Kaleem Shah colorbearer closed out his juvenile campaign with a gritty victory over subsequent GIII Sunland Derby romper Firing Line (Line of David) in the GI Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 20. 

Dortmund showed a new dimension when capturing his seasonal bow in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Feb. 7. Assuming command at the half-mile pole, the hulking chestnut was headed by Firing Line in the stretch and looked beat, but found another gear in the final sixteenth to regain control and keep his perfect record in tact. 

“That was pretty amazing,” Baffert said of that effort. “He gained so much respect for that run. We were hoping for something like that. When that horse went by him, the first thing in my mind was, ‘Wow. Boy was I wrong about this horse. He is not as good as I thought.’” 

The conditioner chuckled and continued, “Going in to the race, I thought he couldn’t lose, but when he did that and came back, it was amazing. It really makes you appreciate the win so much more.” 

Dortmund went on to wire a strong field in Arcadia’s 1 1/16-mile GII San Felipe S. Mar. 7 and is the likely favorite for this Saturday’s GI Santa Anita Derby. 

“We are just concentrating right now on keeping our horses healthy, because if they are not healthy and on top of their game, it doesn’t matter who is in the Derby,” Baffert said. “That is my main concern, keeping them at that peak level and they are really doing well right now.” 

He continued, “Dortmund is coming into this race in perfect form. American Pharoah, he shipped [to Oaklawn], had to race, came back and worked fantastic [Sunday completing five furlongs in :58.60]. He goes back [to Hot Springs]. When they start going 1 1/8 miles, that is when they start separating themselves.” 

Fifth on debut sprinting over the Del Mar synthetic Aug. 9, Zayat Stables homebred American Pharoah broke through with a spectacular victory in the GI Del Mar Futurity Sept. 3. The bay clinched the juvenile championship with a subsequent win in Santa Anita’s GI FrontRunner S. Sept. 27, before being scratched just days before the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with an injury. 

Shipped to Oaklawn for his highly anticipated return, American Pharoah showed he was as good as ever with a 6 1/4-length romp in the 1 1/16-mile GII Rebel S. Mar. 14. The bay is set to return to Hot Springs for his final Derby prep in the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 11. 

“It was never that serious of an injury, just a set-back, so I gave him plenty of time to grow up and it’s really worked out and is paying off,” Baffert commented. “He has been marching forward and he came out of [the Rebel] better than he went in. I am really happy with the way he is coming into the Arkansas Derby.” 

As for how American Pharoah stacks up against his undefeated stablemate Dortmund, Baffert reiterated that they are too different to compare. 

“We know that Dortmund is probably more battle-tested,” the conditioner remarked. “He has been in a fight. American Pharoah is a different type of horse. He is fast, but he does it effortlessly. He hasn’t been in a dog fight, so we don’t know how he is going to respond. It’s like the Final Four. We are in a smaller bracket right now where things start to pick up a little bit. I think after [American Pharoah’s] next race we will know more about him.” 

With the two early Derby favorites in the barn, it would be hard for any conditioner not to be dreaming of roses, but Baffert remains cautiously optimistic. 

“I have gone there loaded before,” Baffert said. “I went with Point Given and Congaree, and the pace was ridiculous and it was just bad luck. We didn’t get it done. With Point Given, the other two races were nothing for him. It was pretty disappointing, so I know disappointing and I don’t dare get ahead of myself.” 

The Hall of Famer added, “The owners can dream in technicolor, but I dream in black and white. I keep it the same. Everybody around me, my barn, Jimmy [Barnes], Dana [Barnes], we are going to go in like we are 10-1. Take nothing for granted. Just go in there, stick to your game plan and hope it happens.”