LEAVING THE PRE-RACE PREP TO OTHERS. 11 SPORTS’ PETE GILBERT JOINS US LIVE FROM PIMLICO. PETE, THERE’S A GOOD REASON THOUGH BAFFERT IS COMFORTABLE STAYING AWAY. PETE: JIMMY BARNES SERVES AS A FRIEND, SOMEONE HE TRUSTS MORE THAN ANY OTHER. THAT RELATIONSHIP ALLOWS BAFFERT THE FREEDOM TO RUN HIS BUSINESS AT HIS LEISURE. >> YOU KNOW, I'M USED TO IT. I TRAVEL ALL THE TIME I'M ALWAYS ON THE ROAD. BOB'S THERE SOMETIMES GREAT. IF BOB CAN'T MAKE IT THEN I JUST PICK UP THE SLACK AND MARCH ON AND TRY TO DO MY BEST AND TRY TO PRODUCE A WIN. >> THEY HAVE WON TOGETHER A TON. BARNES HAS BEEN THERE FOR ALMOST ALL OF THE AMERICAN CLASSIC VICTORIES SADDLED UNDER BAFFERT’S FLAG. RIGHT BY HIS SIDE FOR TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS AMERICAN PHAROH AND JUSTIFY. NOW, ALBEIT UNDER A CLOUD OF CONTROVERSY, THEY HAVE ANOTHER BIG TIME WINNER. MEDINA SPIRIT ROMPED THROUGH THE KENTUCKY DERBY, THANKS PARTLY TO THE STARS ALIGNING AS THE GATES OPENED. YOU NEED A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK -- >> YOU NEED A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK ESPECIALLY IN A 20 HORSE FIELD. FORTUNATELY THE HORSES BROKE THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE KIND OF BROKE AWAY FROM HIM. AND THE SEAS PARTED HE JUST WENT RIGHT UP TO THE FRONT. THEY DIDN'T REALLY CHALLENGE. THEY CAME UP LIKE COMING TO HIM AT THE WIRE AND THEY KIND OF BACKED OFF OF IT. ONCE THEY DID THAT HIS EARS WENT UP AND HE GOT VERY COMFORTABLE. PETE: THEORETICALLY, MEDINA SPIRIT SHOULD ENJOY THAT COMFORT ONCE AGAIN. IN A FIELD HALF THE SIZE HE BATTLED IN CHURCHILL DOWNS, IT
Bob Baffert's trust in Jimmy Barnes makes staying away from Preakness easier
Hall of Fame trainer not coming to Baltimore amid controversy surrounding Medina Spirit
Updated: 9:51 PM EDT May 13, 2021
Bob Baffert's decision to stay away from the Preakness and avoid the circus was made a little bit easier by the fact that he knows he can trust longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes to get the job done.It's hard to imagine, for example, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh staying away from a playoff game because he feared he would be a distraction, but essentially, that's what Baffert has done this week, leaving the pre-race prep to others. There's a good reason, though, that the Hall of Fame trainer is comfortable staying away.For 23 years, Baffert has enjoyed more than an assistant in Barnes, who serves as friend, confidant and a person in whom he trusts with his racing business more than any other.That relationship allows Baffert the freedom to run his business at his leisure, and leaving Barnes in charge is nothing new."You know, I'm used to it. I travel all the time. I'm always on the road. Bob's there sometimes, great. If Bob can't make it, then I just pick up the slack and march on and try to do my best and try to produce a win," Barnes said.They have won together a ton. Barnes has been there for almost all of the American Classic victories saddled under Baffert's flag and right by his side for Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify.Now, albeit under a cloud of controversy, they have another big-time winner. Medina Spirit romped through the Kentucky Derby, thanks partly to the stars aligning as the gates opened."You need a little bit of luck, especially in a 20-horse field. Fortunately, the horses broke the inside, and outside kind of broke away from him, and the seas parted. He just went right up to the front. They didn't really challenge. They came up like coming to him at the wire, and they kind of backed off of it. Once they did that, his ears went up and he got very comfortable," Barnes said.Theoretically, Medina Spirit should enjoy that comfort once again. In a field half the size he battled at Churchill Downs, it's easier to make your own luck.Barnes will have more to take care of than just Medina Spirit. He will also saddle Concert Tour, which is the second-favorite horse in the race.
BALTIMORE — Bob Baffert's decision to stay away from the Preakness and avoid the circus was made a little bit easier by the fact that he knows he can trust longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes to get the job done.
It's hard to imagine, for example, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh staying away from a playoff game because he feared he would be a distraction, but essentially, that's what Baffert has done this week, leaving the pre-race prep to others.
There's a good reason, though, that the Hall of Fame trainer is comfortable staying away.
For 23 years, Baffert has enjoyed more than an assistant in Barnes, who serves as friend, confidant and a person in whom he trusts with his racing business more than any other.
That relationship allows Baffert the freedom to run his business at his leisure, and leaving Barnes in charge is nothing new.
"You know, I'm used to it. I travel all the time. I'm always on the road. Bob's there sometimes, great. If Bob can't make it, then I just pick up the slack and march on and try to do my best and try to produce a win," Barnes said.
They have won together a ton. Barnes has been there for almost all of the American Classic victories saddled under Baffert's flag and right by his side for Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify.
Now, albeit under a cloud of controversy, they have another big-time winner. Medina Spirit romped through the Kentucky Derby, thanks partly to the stars aligning as the gates opened.
"You need a little bit of luck, especially in a 20-horse field. Fortunately, the horses broke the inside, and outside kind of broke away from him, and the seas parted. He just went right up to the front. They didn't really challenge. They came up like coming to him at the wire, and they kind of backed off of it. Once they did that, his ears went up and he got very comfortable," Barnes said.
Theoretically, Medina Spirit should enjoy that comfort once again. In a field half the size he battled at Churchill Downs, it's easier to make your own luck.
Barnes will have more to take care of than just Medina Spirit. He will also saddle Concert Tour, which is the second-favorite horse in the race.