Bob Baffert is regarded as one of the greatest horse racing trainers in the history of the sport.
However, his life has been clouded in as much controversy as it has success, including in 2021 when his runner Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby, before being subsequently disqualified after testing positive for a banned substance.
But, Baffert will have a strong hand for the same race in 2025, as he bids to make a winning return to Churchill Downs, with runners such as Barnes and Citizen Bull both among his likely chances in the opening leg of the Triple Crown series in North America.
You can find his chances and how to bet on the Derby here: twinspires.com/betting-guides/beginners-guide-betting-horse-racing/
Early Life
Baffert was raised on a ranch in Arizona, and he spent time around animals from an early age. His love for horses blossomed after his father brought quarter horses to train and compete at a local track.
During his teens, Baffertβs interest in the sport continued to increase, as he worked as a jockey for $100 per day at informal races outside of Nogales. After gaining success, he would move to race at more recognized tracks after turning 17.
Family Life
Baffert has been a family man throughout his career. He met his future wife around the time that he attended the University of Arizona.
His first wife was called Sherry, and he has since remarried with Jill, who worked as a television reporter in Louisville. Baffert has five children, four of which during his first marriage, and Bode with Jill.
He and Jill work together with the success on the track, which the Hall of Famer acknowledged after winning the Belmont Stakes in 2015. Baffert revealed that he would be making separate donations of $50,000 to three different charities, including Old Friends Equine.
First Major Wins
After turning his attentions to training during his 20s, Baffert would immediate gain a reputation for being excellent with younger horses and being able to spot potential. He moved to California to begin training thoroughbreds in 1991, with a first major success coming when winning the Breedersβ Cup Sprint with Thirty Slews.
However, it would become Baffertβs success in the Triple Crown races that would help him to transcend the sport. His first success in an American Classic would come in 1997, as Silver Charm would win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, before finishing second in the Belmont Stakes.
Notable history would be made in the following season, winning the Derby with Real Quiet, with stablemate Indian Charlie finishing third. Triple Crown history would once again elude him, as Real Quiet could only finish second the Belmont Stakes after winning the Preakness Stakes.
But, history would still be made in 1998, as Baffert became the first trainer in history to win both the Derby and Preakness in successive years.
Triple Crown Domination
Following Real Quietβs win in 1998, Baffert would endure a dry spell in the Triple Crown races. That chances in 2001, when Point Given landed victories in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. A third Derby success would follow in 2002 with War Emblem, who later added the Preakness Stakes before failing to land the Belmont Stakes.
Another dry spell followed for Baffert, with his closest win coming in 2009 when Pioneerof The Nile finished second in the Derby. Lookin At Lucky ended the drought in 2010 when winning the Preakness Stakes, before finishing second in all three Triple Crown races in 2012.
However, history would finally be made in 2015, as Baffert saddled the legendary American Pharoah to dominant wins in the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes. In doing so, he became the first trainer in 37 years to win the Triple Crown. Baffert is also the second-oldest trainer to win the Triple Crown.
History would repeat itself just three years later, as Justify would win all three Classics, before a further Derby victory was added in 2020 with Authentic.
Career Earnings
To date, Baffert has saddled a staggering six winners of the Derby, as well as having the Preakness and Belmont Stakes winners on eight and three occasions, respectively. Dominance has also followed in others races on the schedule, winning the Breedersβ Cup Classic on four occasions. International success has also been achieved, winning the Dubai World Cup four times.
Therefore, it will come as little surprise to learn that Baffert ranks among the most successful trainers in history when it comes to prize money. The Hall of Famer has won over $365 million during his career, winning a total of 3,470 races.
Arrogate and Country Grammer are his two highest earning horses, with the former winning $17 million during his career, which included victories in the Pegasus World Cup and Dubai World Cup. Such has been Baffertβs success on track, he was inducted into the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame in 2009.