BALTIMORE — Asked to identify the link between his previous five Preakness winners, Bob Baffert did not hesitate.
"We actually had the best horse every time I won here," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "It's what makes trainers look great, the best horses."
Baffert seemingly has the best horse again in American Pharoah, who beat a loaded Kentucky Derby field as the pre-race favorite. But 20 years on the Triple Crown stage have also taught Baffert another fundamental truth — the best horse doesn't always win.
Just watch him cringe as he recalls how 2010 Derby favorite Lookin at Lucky got trapped along the rail after starting from the No.