Barnes, the Backbone of the Baffert Barn

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York–While the name Bob Baffert is well known to everyone from your casual racing fan to your diehard track goer, the name Jimmy Barnes is a bit more obscure, or at least it was, until last year. Baffert's longtime assistant trainer and right hand man, Barnes became a household name last year as the constant traveling companion and guardian of Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile).

Barnes continues to travel the country, and sometimes the world, as the chief caretaker and overseer of some Baffert's, and America's, top horses. His presence can be expected at just about any big day of racing and Saturday is no different. Barnes arrived at Saratoga Wednesday with his wife Dana, an exercise rider for Baffert for over two decades, GI Travers S. contenders American Freedom (Pulpit) and Arrogate (Unbridled's Song), and GI King's Bishop S.-bound duo Jazzy Times (Discreetly Mine) and Drefong (Gio Ponti).

“I've been traveling with Bob's horses for about 15 years,” Barnes remarked while standing outside of John Terranova's barn, where the Baffert horses are being stabled while at Saratoga. “I feel really no pressure at all. I'm good.”

Even on last year's Triple Crown trail and the races that followed with American Pharoah, Barnes always looked to be the definition of calm, cool and collected despite the swarm of media and fans constantly following his famed charge around.

“I didn't feel any extra pressure with Pharoah, but we definitely got a lot more attention,” the California resident said. “We are just back to our normal stable now. I think about him daily, but you know, you have to move on. It was a wonderful ride we were on last year. At the time it seemed like it was taking forever, but in reality it went by very quickly. We move on. We will find the next Pharoah somewhere along the way.”

The next American Pharoah, or at least the barn's next 3-year-old star, may be revealed Saturday. Prior to the Traver's day feature, Barnes and Baffert will saddle a pair of speedy runners in “TDN Rising Stars” Jazzy Times and Drefong.

A debut winner at Churchill on Derby day, Zayat Stables' Jazzy Times hit the board in his next to starts and returned to winning ways last out at Del Mar July 31, crushing an optional claimer field by 6 ½ lengths. Owned by Charles Chu, Drefong has won three of four starts, most recently romping by 5 ¼ lengths in a Santa Anita allowance July 4.

“They are both stepping up, but they are 3-year-old races and you only get a chance to run against straight 3-year-olds that one year,” Barnes said. “It's time to see what they can do.”

The Baffert/Barnes team also have two strong contenders in the Midsummer Derby in “TDN Rising Star” Arrogate and GI Betfair.com Haskell Invitational S. runner-up American Freedom, who drew posts one and two, respectively.

“If you were to pick a post, I doubt if you'd pick one and two,” Barnes remarked. “It is what it is and you just have to deal with it. It's a mile and a quarter, so you have plenty of time to get position going into the first turn.”

Juddmonte Farms Arrogate, a $560,000 KEESEP purchase, checked in third in his career bow at Los Alamitos Apr. 17, but it all together next out with a front running score at Santa Anita June 5. Returning 19 days later to demolish an Arcadia allowance, the handsome gray made it three in a row at Del Mar last time Aug. 4 and takes a big step up in class Saturday.

“It's time to step up,” Barnes commented. “He's done everything we have asked him to do in the allowance company and I am looking to forward to seeing him show up on Saturday.”

Gary and Mary West's American Freedom has already had several starts against stakes company, winning Pimlico's Sir Barton S. May 21 and the GIII Iowa Derby July 1. Baffert tagged the bay as his Haskell horse immediately after his impressive debut victory at Santa Anita Apr. 9, and he did the barn proud with a game second behind Exaggerator (Curlin) after setting swift early splits in the Monmouth Park feature July 31.

“American Freedom ran very well in the Haskell,” said Barnes, who named Monmouth Park and Oaklawn as his two favorite tracks to travel to. “He's a good shipper, travels well and he always brings his “A” game. I expect him to run well.”

Watching Barnes with Arrogate as Eduardo Luna, who was also the groom of American Pharoah, gave the colt his bath, it is clear he is an experienced horseman who has spent plenty of time on the racetrack.

“I've been involved in racing since I was a child,” he commented. “I worked for my father's trainer, my father was an owner, on weekends, summers, whenever I could get to the barn.

Dana Barnes actually worked for Baffert before her husband did and was the one who alerted him to a possible opening in the barn in 1999.

“My wife Dana worked for Bob before I did,” the lifelong horseman recalled. “I was working at another stable. She thought there was a position opening up in Bob's barn. She told me I should go talk to Bob and I did. Bob said, 'If the person leaves, you've got the job.” They left and I came right in.”

And the rest, as they say, is history.