Triple Crown winner American Pharoah a ‘different animal’ says trainer Bob Baffert

It’s been a whirlwind last few days for Hall of Fame horse trainer Bob Baffert.

The La Cañada Flintridge resident basked in the afterglow that comes from training a thoroughbred who accomplished the near impossible Saturday afternoon.

American Pharoah became the first horse in 37 years to claim the Triple Crown by clinching the Belmont Stakes in New York.

The victory not only launched the 62-year-old Baffert into the pinnacle of his sport, but landed him a guest spot on NBC’s “Today” show on Sunday, a spot on SportsCenter on Tuesday afternoon and a rare treat later in the evening as Baffert threw out the first pitch at Dodger Stadium.

“I’m really not nervous, but I’m at an age where — when you’re 62, you get a pass,” Baffert said before bouncing a curveball to the right of Dodgers catcher AJ Ellis. “If you’re 40 or 50, you don’t get a free pass, but I haven’t thrown a first pitch since 2002.”

Back in Southern California, Baffert took joy in the simple pleasures.

“You know what I did when I got home last night? I went to Chipotle last night,” said Baffert, who was making his Dodger Stadium debut after throwing out previous first pitches in Baltimore, Anaheim and Yankee Stadium. “How about that? And the best part, nobody knew who I was.”

There was a certain dichotomy in the rarity and the rationale of what took place at Saturday evening’s 147th running of the Belmont Stakes.

On one hand, 3-year-old American Pharoah sought to accomplish what no other horse could do in 37 years, which is to win the coveted and increasingly rare Triple Crown in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes races.

Baffert, a titan of the racing industry, had tasted defeat in three similar circumstances with Silver Charm (1997), Real Quite (1998) and War Emblem (2002). All three horses went two-for-three and missed out on the final victory.

Many others had tried and failed since Affirmed last won the final leg of the Triple Crown in 1977.

Yet, even with the specter of past disappointments in the wind, American Pharoah entered with a different air.

“This horse was special, and I’ve had a lot great ones. He’s so friendly. I’m waiting for him to start talking to me like Mr. Ed,” Baffert said Tuesday. “Once he gets ready, though, he’s a different animal. He’s competitive, he’s confident, he’s just unbelievable.”

Even though American Pharoah led wire-to-wire, there was always a little doubt.

“I was confident, but you never really know until it happens,” Baffert said. “It’s been what, three days since Belmont and I still can’t believe what happened. I knew he was the best horse in the race, but you still have to win it.”

On a day in which Baffert’s belief in American Pharoah was rewarded, the win also reaffirmed what a close friend had known for the last year.

“You don’t see a horse like this often,” said La Cañada Flintridge resident George Jacobs, owner of Georgee’s Pizza. “I used to watch him. I went to Santa Anita one morning and watched Bob work with him. He’s been something special since he had him. There was no doubt, in my mind, that that horse was going to win.”

Jacobs’ friendship with the Baffert family goes back “18 or 19 years” and includes Jacobs’ co-ownership of the champion horse Misremembered with Baffert’s wife, Jill.

Jacobs said he flew to New York with Baffert on Thursday and attended Belmont with his wife, Lynn, and son, George.

“It was an unbelievable experience,” said Jacobs, who had a close-up view from the jockey box. “I went to support Bob and watch history, but I also knew Bob was going to win.”

Jacobs’ appreciation for American Pharoah began on the lone day the horse did not end up in the winner’s circle.

In American Pharoah’s first-ever run on Aug. 9 at Del Mar, the future champion finished fifth.

“When he was a 2-year-old, Bob said, ‘he’s my best horse. I’ve got this 2-year-old, the best 2-year-old I think I’ve ever had,’” Jacobs recalled. “I went to his maiden race, and he didn’t win. He ran fifth and I think it was the only time he ever lost and after that, all he ever did was win.”

While Jacobs believes it’s unfair and impossible to compare American Pharoah to other legendary champions of previous decades such as Secretariat and Seattle Slew, there was one horse that bore some resemblance.

“Bob had a horse named Point Given that won the Belmont, but didn’t win the Derby,” Jacobs said. “He was the best horse ever not to win the Kentucky Derby, but this horse reminds me of that horse. He’s just a superstar.”

Well-respected trainer Art Sherman knew a little something of Baffert’s frustration heading into Belmont for a fourth time.

Sherman had his own chase for the Triple Crown come up just short last spring when his Golden State-bred thoroughbred California Chrome tied for fourth at the Belmont Stakes after posting victories at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

California Chrome was ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, the same man who, a year later, rode American Pharoah to glory.

When Sherman, a San Diego resident, saw American Pharoah cross the finish to victory on Saturday, there was an immediate feeling of elation.

“I was very happy for everybody involved, I know everybody,” Sherman said Tuesday morning. “I know Victor and Bob and we’ve been friends for a lot of years. I was happy knowing the people that did it.”

Like Jacobs, Sherman had a pretty good suspicion that the drought was going to be snapped.

“It is the greatest accomplishment, and it was long overdue,” Sherman said. “It takes a very special horse. Bob’s horse handled it pretty well. Pharoah had some work at the Derby, but it was a walk in the park at the Preakness and at Belmont.”

As for Saturday itself, an estimated 18.5 million tuned in for the Belmont Stakes, with the number of people watching the main race swelling to 22 million, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

Locally, some benefited from the pre-race hype, while the evening was a wash for others.

For Katie McMullen, the assistant general manager at Burbank’s Buffalo Wild Wings, she couldn’t say for sure if the overflow crowd that night had anything to do with the race.

“We’re not a very good gauge,” McMullen said. “We’re busy all the time, no matter what. We’re the busiest store in the country.”

At the Derby restaurant in Arcadia, located a stone’s throw from Santa Anita racetrack, there was a buzz in the eatery that’s dedicated to horse racing and its aficionados.

“We were the after-party,” Derby manager Joseph Martinez said. “Santa Anita did a beer craft festival and they had a viewing party for the Belmont Stakes as well.”

The Derby, which seats approximately 200 patrons according to Martinez, was a wild place Saturday.

“It actually was a very crazy night,” Martinez said.

In all the nuttiness that ensued before, during and after the race, Baffert took a brief moment to enjoy history as it was being made.

“The crowd was just — it was thundering,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “I was just enjoying the call and the crowd and the noise and everything happening. Thirty-seven years, I’ve been a part of it, but you know what? That little horse — he deserved it. He’s a great horse.”