COULD BAFFERT MAKE IT TO SIX? A LOOK AT THE LEGENDARY TRAINER + ODDS

We’re now five days away from the 146^th Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, and one trainer in particular has a chance to put just one more bullet on a resume that is already the stuff of legend in horse racing. Bob Baffert had two top horses already ruled out for Churchill Downs, as Nadal and Charlatan will both be unable to run. However, he has two other horses in the field for Saturday’s race, as Authentic and Thousand Words will be in the field.

Can either of them get by the big favorite, Tiz the Law?

*Don’t forget to check out all the betting odds available at JAZZSports.ag, including exclusive betting pools on the Unbridled Sidney Stakes and Pocahontas Stakes. Find more odds info at the end of the article. 

Could Bob Baffert Make it Six? A Look at a Legendary Kentucky Derby Trainer

There is already a trainer with six victories at the Kentucky Derby – Ben “Plain Ben” Jones. However, Baffert already holds the record for most wins in Triple Crown races (including the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes) with 15, one ahead of the mark previously held by D. Wayne Lukas. He trained American Pharaoh in 2015 and Justify in 2018, giving him two Triple Crown winners. Only one other trainer, “Sunny” Jim Fitzsimmons, has that many Triple Crowns.

Lukas had dominated horse racing during the 1980s and 1990s, until Baffert emerged as an elite trainer. However, Baffert will have a difficult time getting that win this weekend. Authentic looks like he will likely emerge as the fourth choice for bettors, and Thousand Words will be among the big longshots.

As with many trainers and competitors in other sports that have sustained periods of greatness, there is an aura of controversy around Baffert as well. Charlatan and Gamine, a Baffert-trained filly who has enough points for the Kentucky Derby but will run in the Kentucky Oaks instead, both tested positive for lidocaine, used as a skin-applied pain numbing agent, and a banned substance for horses. Baffert was given a suspension as a result of the tests, but that suspension remains under appeal. Baffert’s response is that an assistant trainer was wearing a skin patch with lidocaine that came into contact with both horses.

The problem of drugs in horse racing had hit the press with some vigor right before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the vast majority of international sport (and took over the news cycle). In March, U.S. federal authorities put charges on 27 people with four indictments with respect to shipping and administering banned drugs to horses, for the purpose of having them race beyond what they could do naturally. One of those with charges was Jason Servis, who had trained Maximum Security, who was disqualified after winning the 2019 Kentucky Derby for what stewards determined was an illegal maneuver.

The situation with Baffert is separate from those indictments and is nothing near the scale of what Servis is accused of. And for now, he is looking to Saturday’s race as a chance for one of his horses to emerge as the winner to a significant payoff for bettors – and to get that sixth victory at Churchill Downs.

Unbridled Sidney Stakes Odds

As promised, JAZZ Sports is filling the betting board with lots of amazing opportunities, including an exclusive pool on the Unbridled SIdney Stakes, taking place Sept. 2nd. Check out the top 3 prices below, and make sure to see the whole list at JAZZSports.ag.

Unbridled Sidney Stakes (Top 3 Prices)

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