American Classic History
In 1996, Baffert finished second in the Kentucky Derby by a nose with Cavonnier to Derby winner Grindstone. He came back the next year and won his first Kentucky Derby in 1997 with the gray colt Silver Charm. The horse also gave Baffert his first Preakness Stakes win, the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Silver Charm went on to place second in the Belmont Stakes and claim the first of Baffert's Triple Crown near-miss titles. Baffert repeated winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes the next year with Real Quiet, becoming the only trainer in history to win the two races in back-to-back years. Real Quiet finished second by 4inches in the Belmont, which was the closest Triple Crown near miss in history.
Baffert's next Kentucky Derby win came with War Emblem, who also won the Preakness Stakes in 2002. He has one Belmont Stakes win with Point Given, who also won the Preakness Stakes in 2001.
After eight years without a Classic victory, Baffert trained Lookin At Lucky, co-owned by longtime client and good friend Mike Pegram, to win the Preakness Stakes in 2010.
In addition to these classic victories, Baffert trained Congaree to dual third-place finishes in the 2001 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. His record in the latter race is 5 wins, 1 second and 1 third place finish from 12 starters. He also trained the horses that finished first and third in the 1998 Kentucky Derby and first and third in the 2001 Preakness Stakes. In 2012, Baffert trainees finished second in all three Triple Crown races. In the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, Bodemeister (named after Baffert's son Bode) placed second. In the 2012 Belmont, Paynter was the runner-up. Both colts were campaigned for owner Zayat Stables.
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