Two days after Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem added the Preakness to his resume, trainer Bob Baffert was still sky-high on the black colt’s chances of becoming the first horse to sweep the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.
Baffert also scoffs at rival horsemen who call War Emblem “the best of a bad lot,” the same criticism leveled against the ‘Slew’ 25 years ago.
“Why would anyone listen to them any more?” he said. “They’ve lost all credibility.”
The sleek “stealth bomber” will train up to the June 8 Belmont Stakes at Churchill Downs, flying to New York the Wednesday before the race.
“You know why there hasn’t been a Triple Crown winner [in 24 years]?” Baffert told The Post yesterday. “Because it takes a really superior horse. Well, we’re going to find out if this is a really superior horse.”
Baffert won’t guarantee a victory in the Belmont, saying he doesn’t want to jinx himself. After all, his first two Derby-Preakness winners, Silver Charm and Real Quiet, both finished close-but-no-cigar seconds in the third jewel.
But from the excitement in his voice, you could tell “Bobblehead Bob” (Hollywood Park will give away 15,000 Baffert bobblehead dolls June 15) believes War Emblem owns that once-in-a-lifetime greatness it takes to wear the Crown.
“Maybe now [after Seattle Slew died May 7] there’s no Triple Crown winner alive, that’s what it took. We’re looking for any signs.”
War Emblem won the Derby by four lengths gate-to-wire, loose on the lead. Then in the Preakness, with jockey Victor Espinoza’s feet on the dashboard, he pressed a furious early pace before dragging Espinoza to the front turning for home, and still had enough left to withstand two challenges down the stretch, winning by three-quarters of a length.
Some question whether the speedy, headstrong colt will relax enough in the early going to get the Belmont’s mile-and-a-half.
“Hey, he was just cruising around there [in the Preakness],” Baffert said. “Victor just had to use him a little to get position over those other horses going into the [first] turn. The mile-and-a-half will be a piece of cake.”
Baffert speaks fluent Spanish, a big help in communicating with Espinoza, a native of Mexico City who turns 30 Thursday. His instructions to the jock before each race are to “be patient,” like he’s making love to the most beautiful woman in the world.