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USA Today
03-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Who is Bob Baffert? What to know of six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer
Who is Bob Baffert? What to know of six-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Show Caption Hide Caption Kentucky Derby 2025: Baffert's return, and Journalism is the horse to watch Previewing the 151st Kentucky Derby, focusing on Journalism's chances and Bob Baffert's return. Bob Baffert is back at Churchill Downs. It's the biggest storyline Saturday ahead of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky, as the embattled trainer makes his return for the first time in three years. A win on Saturday with Citizen Bull would give him 17 wins at Triple Crown race tracks. It would also put him in a class by himself with seven Kentucky Derby victories, which would be the most all-time by a trainer. Baffert originally had two horses running in the derby, but Rodriguez was scratched from the field on Thursday. Here's what you need to know on Baffert ahead of the Kentucky Derby: REQUIRED READING: Bob Baffert had horse racing's problems dumped on his reputation. It wasn't fair. Who is Bob Baffert? Bob Baffert is a Hall of Fame horse racing trainer and one of the most well-known and recognizable figures in the sport. As noted by his profile page at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, he hails from Nogales, Arizona and comes from a horse training family: His father bred quarter horses on their cattle ranch. He briefly spent time as a jockey before getting into horse training, which came after earning a degree in animal sciences and racetrack management from the University of Arizona. REQUIRED READING: Why is the Kentucky Derby 2025 field at 19 horses? Rodriguez, Grande scratched When American Pharoah became the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown in 2015, Baffert became just the 11th Triple Crown trainer in history. When Justify pulled off the Triple Crown in 2018, Baffert elevated his resume to another level: He joined James 'Sunny Jim' Fitzsimmons as the only trainers to train two Triple Crown-winning horses. Baffert is also at the center of a controversial three-year suspension from Churchill Downs after one of his horses, Medina Spirit, tested positive in a post-race drug test following a win in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Baffert's winning horses in Triple Crown races Triple Crown American Pharoah (2015) Justify (2018) Kentucky Derby Silver Charm (1997) Real Quiet (1998) War Emblem (2002) American Pharoah (2015) Justify (2018) Authentic (2020) Medina Spirit (2021)* * title was stripped in February 2022 and does not count toward Baffert's Kentucky Derby win total REQUIRED READING: Kentucky Derby 2025: Purse winnings, latest odds and favorites for 151st race Preakness Stakes Silver Charm (1997) Real Quiet (1998) Point Given (2001) War Emblem (2002) Lookin At Lucky (2010) American Pharoah (2015) Justify (2018) National Treasure (2023) Belmont Stakes Point Given (2001) American Pharoah (2015) Justify (2018) REQUIRED READING: What are the horses' numbers in the 2025 Kentucky Derby? Bob Baffert ban, explained Baffert was suspended from 2022 to 2024 by Churchill Downs after his 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, tested positive for corticosteroid betamethasone in a post-race drug test. The suspension of Baffert by Churchill Downs Incorporated was originally for two years, but the parent company of Churchill Downs added an extra year to it following a failed lawsuit attempt by Baffert in 2022. The reason for its escalation was because Baffert continued to "peddle a false narrative" on Medina Spirit's drug test results, according to Churchill Downs Incorporated. It wasn't until July 2024 that Baffert dropped his suit. Churchill Downs Incorporated then dropped Baffert's suspension and reinstated him. How old is Bob Baffert? Bob Baffert is 72 years old. He will turn 73 in January 2026. REQUIRED READING: Kentucky Derby winners: History of winning horses at Churchill Downs since 1875 How many times has Bob Baffert won the Kentucky Derby? In his 31 years as a horse trainer, Baffert has trained six Kentucky Derby-winning horses, which ties him for the most wins in the race's history with Ben Jones. Medina Spirit would have been his seventh Kentucky Derby-winning horse, but Churchill Downs Incorporated revoked that title during the three-year suspension. Here's a list of the horses Baffert has trained that went on to win the Kentucky Derby: 1997: Silver Charm Silver Charm 1998: Real Quiet Real Quiet 2002: War Emblem War Emblem 2015: American Pharoah * American Pharoah * 2018: Justify * Justify * 2020: Authentic * Denotes Triple Crown winner REQUIRED READING: How likely is Bob Baffert to win another Kentucky Derby? Updated odds Bob Baffert Kentucky Derby 2025 horse Baffert is the trainer of Citizen Bull, who is running in the 151st edition of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday out of the No. 1 post position. There were originally suppose to be two Baffert-trained horses in the field, but Rodriguez was scratched from the race due to a foot bruise. Citizen Bull is considered long shot to win the Kentucky Derby at 14-1 odds. Citizen Bull is 4-0-1 in six starts.
NBC Sports
24-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Smarty Jones captured hearts on the 2004 Triple Crown trail. He's been elected to the Hall of Fame
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — It's time for another Smarty party. Twenty-one years after Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the chestnut colt has been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame announced that he was the lone candidate in the contemporary category to appear on the majority of ballots, with 50% plus one vote required for election. It was his first year on the ballot. Bred in Pennsylvania, Smarty Jones won eight of nine career starts and won the Eclipse Award for 3-year-old males in 2004. That year he became the first undefeated Kentucky Derby winner since Seattle Slew with a 2 3/4-length victory. Two weeks later, Smarty Jones won the Preakness by a record 11 1/2 lengths to set up a Triple Crown bid. His hard-luck story captured hearts along the way, with schoolchildren writing letters wishing him luck and people throwing Smarty parties. But he was beaten by a length in the Belmont Stakes by 36-1 shot Birdstone in front of a record crowd of 120,139 in New York. Smarty Jones retired after the Belmont with career earnings of $7,613,155. He was owned by Roy and Pat Chapman, trained by John Servis and ridden by Stewart Elliott. Also elected were racehorses Decathlon and Hermis and trainer George H. Conway by the 1900-1959 Historic Review Committee. Edward L. Bowen, Arthur B. Hancock III and Richard Ten Broeck were elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee. The newest Hall of Fame members will be enshrined on Aug. 1 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
CBS News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Smarty Jones elected to Hall of Fame 21 years after capturing hearts on 2004 Triple Crown trail
It's time for another Smarty party. Twenty-one years after Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the chestnut colt born at a farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania, has been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame announced Thursday that he was the lone candidate in the contemporary category to appear on the majority of ballots, with 50% plus one vote required for election. It was his first year on the ballot. Bred at Fairthorne Farm in Chester County, Smarty Jones won eight of nine career starts and won the Eclipse Award for 3-year-old males in 2004. That year he became the first undefeated Kentucky Derby winner since Seattle Slew with a 2 3/4-length victory. Two weeks later, Smarty Jones won the Preakness by a record 11 1/2 lengths to set up a Triple Crown bid. His hard-luck story captured hearts along the way, with schoolchildren writing letters wishing him luck and people throwing Smarty parties. FILE - Smarty Jones (15), with jockey Stewart Elliott up, drives down the stretch to win the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 1, 2004, in Louisville, Ky. Daniel P. Derella/AP Photo But he was beaten by a length in the Belmont Stakes by 36-1 shot Birdstone in front of a record crowd of 120,139 in New York. Smarty Jones retired after the Belmont with career earnings of $7,613,155. He was owned by Roy and Pat Chapman, trained by John Servis and ridden by Stewart Elliott. Also elected were racehorses Decathlon and Hermis and trainer George H. Conway by the 1900-1959 Historic Review Committee. Edward L. Bowen, Arthur B. Hancock III and Richard Ten Broeck were elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee. The newest Hall of Fame members will be enshrined on Aug. 1 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
San Francisco Chronicle
24-04-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Smarty Jones captured hearts on the 2004 Triple Crown trail. He's been elected to the Hall of Fame
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — It's time for another Smarty party. Twenty-one years after Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the chestnut colt has been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame announced Thursday that he was the lone candidate in the contemporary category to appear on the majority of ballots, with 50% plus one vote required for election. It was his first year on the ballot. Bred in Pennsylvania, Smarty Jones won eight of nine career starts and won the Eclipse Award for 3-year-old males in 2004. That year he became the first undefeated Kentucky Derby winner since Seattle Slew with a 2 3/4-length victory. Two weeks later, Smarty Jones won the Preakness by a record 11 1/2 lengths to set up a Triple Crown bid. His hard-luck story captured hearts along the way, with schoolchildren writing letters wishing him luck and people throwing Smarty parties. But he was beaten by a length in the Belmont Stakes by 36-1 shot Birdstone in front of a record crowd of 120,139 in New York. Smarty Jones retired after the Belmont with career earnings of $7,613,155. He was owned by Roy and Pat Chapman, trained by John Servis and ridden by Stewart Elliott. Also elected were racehorses Decathlon and Hermis and trainer George H. Conway by the 1900-1959 Historic Review Committee. Edward L. Bowen, Arthur B. Hancock III and Richard Ten Broeck were elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee. ___
Winnipeg Free Press
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Smarty Jones captured hearts on the 2004 Triple Crown trail. He's been elected to the Hall of Fame
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — It's time for another Smarty party. Twenty-one years after Smarty Jones won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the chestnut colt has been elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame announced Thursday that he was the lone candidate in the contemporary category to appear on the majority of ballots, with 50% plus one vote required for election. It was his first year on the ballot. Bred in Pennsylvania, Smarty Jones won eight of nine career starts and won the Eclipse Award for 3-year-old males in 2004. That year he became the first undefeated Kentucky Derby winner since Seattle Slew with a 2 3/4-length victory. Two weeks later, Smarty Jones won the Preakness by a record 11 1/2 lengths to set up a Triple Crown bid. His hard-luck story captured hearts along the way, with schoolchildren writing letters wishing him luck and people throwing Smarty parties. But he was beaten by a length in the Belmont Stakes by 36-1 shot Birdstone in front of a record crowd of 120,139 in New York. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. Smarty Jones retired after the Belmont with career earnings of $7,613,155. He was owned by Roy and Pat Chapman, trained by John Servis and ridden by Stewart Elliott. Also elected were racehorses Decathlon and Hermis and trainer George H. Conway by the 1900-1959 Historic Review Committee. Edward L. Bowen, Arthur B. Hancock III and Richard Ten Broeck were elected by the Pillars of the Turf Committee. The newest Hall of Fame members will be enshrined on Aug. 1 in Saratoga Springs, New York. ___ AP horse racing:
