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Baffert falls short in bid for third win

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Posted: Saturday May 08, 1999 03:15 PM

Bob Baffert: "What are you going to do? You can't win them all." Matthew Stockman/Allsport

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (CNN/SI) -- In the weeks leading up to the Kentucky Derby, talk centered on Bob Baffert winning a third-straight Derby.

Before the race Saturday, Baffert did everything right. He was in his lucky box, wearing his lucky tie. He even met Muhammad Ali in the paddock before Saturday's 125th Kentucky Derby.

But when it came time to deliver the knockout that would give Baffert a record third straight Derby win, Baffert's three entries came up short.

Prime Timber was fourth, the filly Excellent Meeting fifth and General Challenge 11th, all behind the race's winner, the D. Wayne Lukas-trained Charismatic.

"There were too many horses," Baffert said. "They tried running late. ... What are you going to do? You can't win them all."

All week long at Churchill Downs, the white-haired Baffert, with his distinctive dark glasses, was the center of attention. He had come in second by a nose in 1996 with Cavonnier, then won in 1997 and 1998 with Silver Charm and Real Quiet.

He came to Kentucky with the top two finishers in the Santa Anita Stakes, General Challenge and Prime Timber, and two fillies believed by many to be the equal of any 3-year-old colts in the land, Excellent Meeting and Silverbulletday.

Baffert stuck by an early decision to run Silverbulletday in Friday's Kentucky Oaks, but waited until Friday to announce he would run Excellent Meeting in the Derby, and not the Oaks.

Silverbulletday then won the Oaks easily, giving Baffert a shot at being the first trainer to train an Oaks and Derby winner in the same year since Ben A. Jones in 1952.

He was ready for the big day, with his blue tie for luck and sitting with Prime Timber owners Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Jones in the same box where he sat for the Real Quiet and Silver Charm wins.

The Excellent Meeting-General Challenge joint entry, owned by Mr. and Mrs. John Mabee, ended up going off as the favorite, but became the 20th straight Derby favorite to fail to win the race.

 

Related information
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Charismatic wins Kentucky Derby Baffert horses to start sixth, 14th, 15th
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1999 Kentucky Derby Results
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.