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I Trainer of the Quarter BOB BAFFERT
The TRM Trainer of the Quarter award has been won by Bob Baffert. Baffert and his team will receive a selection of products from the internationally-acclaimed range of TRM supplements, as well as a bottle of fine Irish whiskey. WORDS: GILES ANDERSON PHOTOS: fRANcES j. kARON, SUZIE PIcOU-OLDHAM 8
TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 37
DON’T know about Bob Baffert’s reading habits but perhaps he took inspiration from Sir Robert Scott’s famous book of 1828, “Tales of a Grandfather,” which recounted the future Scottish king, Robert the Bruce, and his conviction of “if it at first you don’t succeed try, try again.” Robert the Bruce’s advice became renowned worldwide and could easily apply to Bob Baffert, who after three near Triple Crown misses in the past decade became the first trainer to complete the feat since Laz Barrera in 1978. Much has been written about Baffert’s accomplishments over the years but with a record of 12 individual classic wins and now one Triple Crown to his name, there is no better or more timely recipient of this TRM Trainer of the Quarter award. Plenty has also been written about Baffert, his team, and most importantly, American Pharoah. Ironically and fortuitously for Zayat Stables, both Pioneerof the Nile and his son American Pharoah were Zayat homebreds bought-in at the sales by their breeder. As the accompanying photos suggest, Bob Baffert’s masterful handling of American Pharoah speaks for itself. n