Page 115 - Speedhorse March 2018

him without a pony horse. He’s quick and he’s powerful, moving just like a four-legged Sugar Ray Leonard. He looks at absolutely everything and checks it out. At the same time, he’s not at all nervous or hyper. If he has a problem, it’s that he has a tendency to react before he really looks . . . almost like fighting first and asking questions later.
“I guess, in some ways, this yellow horse is a paradox. He’s all things I said, but he’s also easy to train. You want to know the truth? Anyone can train a runner like Gold Coast Express but . . . it’s the management of him that’s difficult. To my way of thinking, there are no great trainers in this business but there certainly are some great managers.”
Some people may think Baffert entertains
a supreme confidence level about his yellow horse. But on the other hand, why shouldn’t he? Currently, Baffert insists there’s only one other horse around who can whip the palomino, and that’s an individual by the name of Slick Talker who was purchased by Bill Mitchell in the All American Sale from the Allred Brothers. “This Slick Talker is going to be one phenomenal runner,” enthused Baffert. “I used to watch his mama run all the time when I was in Arizona. But Gold Coast Express? Well, he may beat himself through mistakes but he won’t be outrun. Not right now. He’s smart and he’s sound. He’s perfectly correct in conformation. He’s straight, long, and well balanced. He’ll be super strong this year.
“I don’t feel the same pressure with Gold Coast Express that I felt in the beginning. The horse made a lot of mistakes as a two year old and, as a result, he was overlooked. Basically, he’s left those mistakes behind him. Besides, I have him figured out! I think another aspect that’s helped tremendously is the fact that
Bill Mitchell and I have absolute trust and confidence in one another. That works as an advantage for the horse.”
Bob Baffert has worked hard during the 20-plus years he’s been around horses. He also attributes at least a portion of his success to luck. “I’ve been a very lucky person,” he says quietly. “I think my luck really changed when I met my wife, Sherry. We’ve been married 2 1⁄2 years, and now we have Taylor who’s 1 1⁄2. Taylor’s definitely part of my luck. We’ve taken him to three races and I won all three!”
Baffert has a tendency to look at the entire picture when he views himself within the world of race horse trainers. He can pinpoint his beginnings. He can define himself currently. And . . . he can even look down
Bob Baffert with Gold Coast Express owner William Mitchell.
the road and see a possible end. “My father plays a major role in the Gold Coast Express story,” he said. “Wasn’t he the one who started everything for me? He and my brother are two of my biggest fans. Dad comes out once in a while and watches me. He still lectures me and thinks I’m slacking off.
“You know what I think is one of the
key factors with me? It’s the fact that I never think about the money part! I know . . . a lot of people will hear that and say, ‘Oh, sure,’ but I’m telling the truth. I’ll quit training the day it’s no longer fun, the day I have to drag myself to the barn. I guess most people would characterize me as a laid back type of person, which is the way I view myself. I want to win those races but, like Gold Coast Express, I’m not hyper. I have gray hair, but I promise
you it’s simply a matter of premature color changing! And you want to know something else? My dad has never won a stakes race!”
That last statement may be the only one that doesn’t ring true in the Bob Baffert story. His dad has won a host of stakes races. He’s won them in Arizona, in California, and in New Mexico. He’s won them with horses such as Kellys Coffer, Neats Wonder, War Star Wrangler, Love N Money, and Gold Coast Express. He’s won them, plainly and simply, through his son.
During his tenure as a Quarter Horse trainer, Bob Baffert trained horses such as 1987 Champion 2 Year Old Easygo Effort; 1991 Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding Ed Grimley; 1986 World Champion, 1986 Champion 3 Year Old, 1986 Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding, 1987 Champion Aged Horse and 1987 Champion Aged Gelding Gold Coast Express; and 1988 Champion 3 Year Old and 1988 Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding Shawnes Favorite.
“I’ll quit training the day it’s no longer fun, the day I have to drag myself to the barn.”
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LOOKING BACK - AN EXCERPT FROM JUNE 1987 ISSUE
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