Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

A21
SPORTS Tuesday 5 June 2018

Baffert sees parallels between Justify and American Pharoah

By STEPHEN WHYNO if there isn't the same
AP Sports Writer buzz about ending the
Bob Baffert misses the Triple Crown drought
simple pleasure of watching that followed American
American Pharoah breeze. Pharoah's run. Justify also
On the verge of his second wasn't primed for this kind
Triple Crown with Justify, the of run — he didn't even
Hall of Fame trainer is quick race as a 2-year-old.
to recall his admiration Baffert didn't realize until
for his first history-making Justify's first race that he
superhorse. might be training this kind
"I've never had a horse of champion. As soon as he
work like him," Baffert said. won to break his maiden,
"His mechanics, his motion, Justify looked the part to
just the way he did it. ... This Baffert, and he's followed
horse is starting to act like that by winning the Santa
Pharoah." Anita Derby, Kentucky
Justify isn't American Derby and Preakness.
Pharoah. He wasn't a "What he's done since
2-year-old champion and February, you have to be a
never seemed destined to superstar to do that," Baffert
win the Kentucky Derby, said. "He's like Pharoah.
Preakness and Belmont. They're superstars."
American Pharoah looked Jockey Victor Espinosa
bred and built for that. wants to pull the reins on
Though Justify's path to this that comparison. After
point has differed wildly riding American Pharoah,
from American Pharoah's Espinosa has plenty of
run to the 2015 Triple Crown, respect for Justify but won't
Baffert sees similarities in his put the two in the same
stride, his growth and his class.
potential. That's why he "It's not even close,"
thinks Justify could be just Espinosa told The AP.
the second Triple Crown "(American Pharoah is) one
winner since Affirmed in of a kind. It's hard to explain
1978. that because I rode many,
"They're two different type many horses, but nothing
of horses, Pharoah and this like this guy. Probably the
guy," Baffert said after Justify power and the endurance
won the Preakness. "I think that he has that not many
I see a lot of resemblance horses can do it. He does
in these two, the way they Justify, ridden by exercise rider Humberto Gomez, gallops at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., things so easy when other
move. ... When I worked Saturday, May 26, 2018 getting ready for The Belmont Stakes and a possible Triple Crown, in New horses, they can't just even
him after the Preakness, York in June. get close to him."
American Pharoah, when Associated Press Baffert sees similarities in
he would breathe, he was the horses' strides and
like he was a machine. And Saturday. a winning race in the to McKinzie on this Triple running styles, even as he
this horse is getting there." "He just keeps doing more Belmont is no easy task. Crown trail could make the concedes they got to this
Justify's recent works have than we keep expecting," American Pharoah is the distance at the Belmont. point in different ways.
brought some similarities Justify jockey Mike Smith grandson of 2003 Belmont "We're quietly optimistic Baffert believes they're
into focus. American told The Associated Press winner Empire Maker and that we can hopefully do both horses who can win at
Pharoah didn't have his after the Preakness. "There's had the pedigree to make it again," Baffert said. "But any length.
best in the Kentucky Derby always going to be that the distance. I'm like I'm a realist. I don't "Pharoah and him, what
before rolling in the pouring race where he's going to Justify looked gassed at believe it until I see it. Right they have in common is
rain in the Preakness. have to fight one out. I the end of the 1 3/16-mile now we just stay focused they're extremely fast,"
Three years later, Justify believe that was the one, Preakness — though Smith and get him up there and Baffert said. "They both
has rebounded from so hopefully he'll come thought he had more horse keep him happy." could win the Breeders' Cup
an imperfect Preakness back and run even better left. After working Justify The journey of another Sprint and the Breeders'
to appear on top of his next time." at Churchill Downs, Baffert superhorse to the Belmont Cup Classic. They're just
game with the mile-and- Following American sees no reason the horse makes the horse racing good horses. They're just
a-half Belmont coming up Pharoah's lead and running he joked was his "backup" world plenty happy, even superior horses."q