Baffert on Flightline: 'He's Pharoah at 4' (he also talks about Taiba, Cave Rock)

Trainer Bob Baffert arrived at Keeneland as his horses finish preparation for Friday and Saturday's Breeders' Cup. As high as he is on his Breeders' Cup Classic contender Taiba, the G1 Pennsylvania Derby winner, Baffert knows it's a tall order for anyone to beat unbeaten Flightline. "I know how people felt when they ran against American Pharoah,' Baffert said, referring to his 2015 Triple Crown winner whose career concluded with a Breeders' Cup Classic victory at Keeneland. "He's Pharoah at 4. He moves just like him. He's an extraordinary horse." Baffert also talked about Cave Rock, his big favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

[@henryb9777]

Baffert is a class act people don’t know what he does outside the scenes. He does so much for so many people including my family, we will always be grateful with Bob.

[@dontlookback3549]

including cheating!!

[@jeffb5785]

Baffert was very candid, no BS. I laughed when he said his horse likes to run at a target, I just hope he can see his target, no explanation was needed for that comment.

[@nancycowan5030]

Just an excellent interview, so good to see you Bob!

[@elaineacosta5356]

Bob Baffert is one of the best people who has ever seen the industry of thoroughbred racing, and very well liked 👍 he is knowledgeable and has the ability that is God given, and I hope 🙏 he continues in this way 😀 humble and loving in his craft, Elaine Acosta.

[@pamabbott5357]

Good racing luck to you and the connections Bob ! Going to be quite a. race !

[@davidwirth2716]

Flightline going to laying around 3rd and takes the lead 3/4 pole and it's all over, not much of a race turning for home.

[@gabbargado6242]

Flight better be leading from the get go. Otherwise, hell be blocked by other horses. Good luck to all of them.

[@davidwirth2716]

@@gabbargado6242 What!! Blocked! There aew only 7 other horses in the race. This isn't the KD with 20 horses! He never sits in the back of the back , hw gets out sharply close to the pace every time!🙄

[@paulmazzone8758]

@@gabbargado6242 people don't do that in big races

[@RedBev59]

He always sort of undermines his horses but we know better. Flightline is awesome.

[@henryb9777]

The legend

[@waltertnyc]

For overages of listed therapeutics, Mr. Baffert is unjustly villified. Haters also sent legendary champion trainer Vincent O' Brien off for a period of time on suspicion and accusation. Rise again and again, sir.

[@steplumpkin5432]

GREAT STUFF!!!!!!

[@heinzbucksandcastle2053]

Maybe the most honest interview I have ever seen from any horse trainer, well done!

[@jackwoods9604]

He was His usual Narcissistic Self Trying to Get Attention Back on Him With His "Hes Pharoah at 4" Comment....Flightline is Superior to Pharoah...Pharoah also Lost Twice and in The Travers to Keen ice

[@paulmazzone8758]

Bob's pretty funny " I just hope he can see his target "

[@francesphillips587]

So funny I just hope he can see his target he is right on that one I think Bob knows he is going to be second or third this horse is just in another league I think they as trainers know that to best to all I can't wait for this race I am so excited

[@paulmazzone8758]

@@francesphillips587 really funny

[@paulmazzone8758]

@@francesphillips587 I think Flightline is just below Secretariat and Spectacular Bid. Right up there with Seattle Slew, Affirmed , American Pharaoh and Justify. After that comes Arrogate and several others.

[@jeffb5785]

It seems Bob has a similar opinion to mine, The race with Flightline, everyone else is running for 2nd and 3rd, the only question is by how many lengths will Flightline win?

[@tylariasworld2410]

“ He has to see his target “

[@lisapadron1970]

Bob your a great person I know you was only trying to help those horses stay positive... You are loved...❤

[@r1.454]

Incredibly beautiful area

[@jackmioffer7780]

Bob knows Taiba 's target is Life is Good for second place money worth 1.2 million or 3rd place 600k.

[@marieprovencio4882]

Perfect

[@thaddeus7690]

I just love Bob Baffert.

[@StonedMickey]

Baffert, you shouldn't be allowed to say A.P.'s name. You had to be the luckiest son of a gun to get that horse. Shows what a SUPER horse he was (and is) to be a Grand Slam winner, DESPITE HAVING YOU AS A TRAINER.

[@leeaccardy2023]

You are so ignorant 🙄

[@StonedMickey]

@@leeaccardy2023 Thank you so much for taking time out of your valuable day to tell me your thought on my intelligence. Must have been difficult to find the time while mucking out stalls.Have a good day now, ya hear?

[@paulmazzone8758]

@@StonedMickey give it a break

[@albertonastasi4860]

flightline looks higher than AP, goes on the hunt for Secretariat and Man o war,. Very difficult task, but I think that from 2000m or 10 furlongs to 2400m or 12 furlongs he will be even better and he is undefeated, showing extreme dominance and a lot of perseverance.

[@theOlLineRebel]

He is in the hunt for Ghostzapper at best (and that's no insult - the best I've ever personally seen). Undefeated at 5 starts over a year and a half+ is not that big a deal. The odds are for it as well as against that at that point. We will see.

[@sophiaschommer7337]

@@theOlLineRebel yeah he reminds me so much of Ghostzapper as well. I have to say his conformation reminds me more of Man o War than anything else, though. Flightline to me seems like more of the stayer type than Ghostzapper. Ghostzapper seemed to me more of the sprinter type. It's just that Ghostzapper was SO talented that he could carry that speed up to classic distances. Making Ghostzapper very similar (I imagine at least) to the great Dr. Fager. But yeah his racing career is very similar to Ghostzapper. And his races are very similar to Ghostzapper. His Met Mile and Ghostzapper's Met Mile literally mirror each other they are so similar.

[@theOlLineRebel]

@@sophiaschommer7337 I'm skeptical. I still can't find PPs that tell what weights he carried - the last was 124 but that's all I know. (Haven't paid much attention to racing since jockeys and race-course corps started kneeling in 2020.) At least I was able to dig up BSFs, which were good but let's hope not a fluke for the single race (Skip Away got a 118 also for his Pimlico Special, so anything below 120 I'm not over-enthused, just alert if it's bubbling under). Also he needs to show more versatility - bad race surfaces, e.g.

[@albertonastasi4860]

@@theOlLineRebel For personal taste to its impressive height, not so marked in the sons of Tapid and to the special way in which they mixed congruent families in their bloodstream to exploit the long-distance, I follow this specimen (1M) from auction. Publicly and for the first time in 4 curves or elbows and in grade 1, I predicted and predicted that I would win by a wide margin, easier than ever. It is such a wonderful specimen that rather I ask for the best horses on the planet and more distance, so that the horse responds to the challenge and demonstrates what "Big Heart" really is. We are privileged. I guarantee you and I personally would never think that way about a horse, that after 10 furlong they will never have to demand it, it will simply be the champion of champions that we dream of seeing in life.

[@sophiaschommer7337]

@@theOlLineRebel yes I do agree with you to some extent. Actually many great horses have run beyers nearly as fast as him. Like you mentioned Skip Away ran many races with a beyer above 110. Formal Gold ran 3 consecutive races above 120. Arrogate ran races on the 120s. So I do tend to agree with you. Flightline has also raced mostly against medicore competition in California. I will say that in his Met Mile he did overcome some adversity though with his bad break and being cut off twice. Flightline beyers are extremely high though historically for a horse with only 5 starts. His last race was a 126. Tied for the second highest ever. He constantly runs races above 110. Which is world class level.

[@marieprovencio4882]

True team baffert

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

It's as if Lawrence Taylor and Mike Tyson gave birth to a racehorse.

[@jasonwoodbury3717]

I just hope he can see his target!!!!

[@tomahawk_nole1343]

So fade him in the Classic?

[@patdiggin7053]

I'm sure the horse is top rate so alot of the trainers refuse to take him on with horses of similar ability so we don't get a proper contest.

[@smithjohan3275]

Big money mike smith and tabia

[@omesh5387]

Flightline will Bounce!!!

[@michaellucas669]

Don't bet on that

[@alexandertriozzi5121]

Will bounce in the winners circle with glee

[@CamaroKidd2022]

Like Baffert but it looks like he has aged a lot in the past year. Too much stress because of what happened.

[@LongshotEddie]

Respect Bob Baffert, excellent trainer. I've been a racing fan since Damascus and I say Seattle Slew/Spectular Bid/Secretariat would have buried Flightline and American Pharoah, but really upset sad Flightline retired too damn soon. We'll never see horses like the aformentioned again because they retire them too soon for the stud fee. Their afraid to lose a race.

[@redsky8763]

He's a very good horse not being juiced by BB.

[@paulmazzone8758]

I need to update what I said . I think that Secretariat and Spectacular Bid are both better than Flightline . Because Secretariat ran the fastest Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes ever . Someone also reminded me , that in the Belmont Stakes which was a mile and a half . That Secretariat pass the mile and quarter in 1:58 2/5 and finish in the race in 2:24 . Then Spectacular Bid won the Charles H Strub which was a mile and a quarter and he ran the race in 1:57 4/5 and he broke the track record and that time was also a World Record. So both those horses ran faster than Flightline and they also ran from 2 to 5 years old. Then comes Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Justify , American Pharaoh, Kelso , Dr Fager , Buckpasser Damascus, Forego. Then comes Arrogate and several others.

[@christopherC1111]

Haha you’re funny

[@pattiwinn5217]

Over 30 drug violations??? Over 70 Horses died under his So called care… PLEEZE!!! Should have been banned for Life

[@dinorigor2292]

Bon baffert will win again!

[@bimopramono9240]

FL little bit more faster than AP,,💪💪

[@silvereyedstacker1842]

He is, but I wonder what AP would have been like at 4. AP was phenomenal. Let’s see if FL fires and posts a faster time.

[@bnegs521]

AP never raced at 4.

[@lee7701]

Unless Flightline was to run on turf and beat Europes best then he will never go down as a great.

[@michaellucas669]

Get out of here with that nonsense

[@bignose4057]

do you demand euros to beat america's best on dirt before they can be considered great.

[@lee7701]

@@bignose4057 in Europe only donkeys and average horses run on all weather tracks and you have to ask why does Europe have so many winners at the breeders cup with so few runners.

[@sarafinasegale8726]

I am going to investigate the death of Medina Spirit, Lord Nelson( euthanized) at young age in his stud standings.... both you have been associated with training, as a freelance consultant.. I gave you the benefit of doubt, but some of your training techniques and after care have left me with the big question, can Bob Baffert the trainer come to the realization , he is NOT a rockstar....

[@paulmazzone8758]

Who cares

[@sarafinasegale8726]

@@paulmazzone8758 please little boy, don't respond. ..

[@paulmazzone8758]

@@sarafinasegale8726 your waisting your time, nobody cares what your going to do . By the way I'm probably a lot older than you , and I know a lot more about the business than you. Give me a break with your ridiculous comment " please little boy, don't respond"

[@sarafinasegale8726]

@@paulmazzone8758 Sorry.... Do you know Bob???I do...Stop harassment...

[@paulmazzone8758]

@@sarafinasegale8726 Of course I know Bob

[@jackwoods9604]

ALL EYES Will be on Flightline in The Classic....PERFECT Race for Baffert to "Juice up" Taiba and Try to Upset Flightline So Everyone Can Jump Back on His Bandwagon as Best Trainer in World...And IF Taiba Wins i Can Almost Guarantee He Will Fail a Drug Test After Race

[@heinzbucksandcastle2053]

Bob Baffert is a legend, why crap on him? What happened was not his fault.

[@dabking3611]

​@@heinzbucksandcastle2053 🤣🤡 BAFFERT 💉

[@theravagedgrapefruit8190]

@@dabking3611 your just jealous he always wins!! Typical weak minded person!

[@dabking3611]

@@theravagedgrapefruit8190 🤣

[@paulmazzone8758]

Move on , tired of hearing about that

[@pauloconnor5101]

💉 💊

[@dionbuena2582]

Bafferts entries should be examined for drug test everytime he's got an entry because he was already found drugging his trained horses. Should be test before and after the race just to be fare with other horsemen. He's a cheater.

[@paulmazzone8758]

.move on tired of hearing it

[@jamesdavis7225]

And you haven't a clue.

[@makingthecoin3647]

American Pharaoh beat nobody. One of the weakest 3year old classes EVER. only horse decent was Frosted but he was a Miler. Then he got lucky in the Classic when the female beast Beholder was scratched. Come on now.

[@jamesdavis7225]

LOL. Give up little guy.

[@makingthecoin3647]

@@jamesdavis7225 ATTABOY!!!

[@sophiaschommer7337]

But American Pharaoh's speed figures and times speak for themselves. It doesn't matter who he beat, statistics don't lie. He was a very talented horse. The best ever? No. But he was a talent you don't see every year.

[@makingthecoin3647]

@sophiaschommer7337 Sophia great name. I don't see it. I believe people who experienced that triple crown was there first ever so they are enamored overwhelmed with the feeling that they finally got to witness it that the horse is special. Normal human feelings but those who saw this as there first triple crown went OVERBOARD. So obvious. The times you are talking about in a career still don't compare with greats. Plus please don't narrow it to just three races. Sorry the contenders he faced were pretenders.

[@sophiaschommer7337]

@makingthecoin Thanks for the compliment about my name! However, back on to what we were talking about, I wasn't into horse racing when AP won the Triple Crown. So I don't think I look at it from an emotional point of view as I actually have a few emotions about it. In American Pharaoh's last race, he earned a 120 beyer, which, no matter how you look at it, does not happen every day. In fact, if you look at his speed figures, there were only 2 races, he didn't earn a triple digit beyer in. His maiden, which he lost (Bob baffert attributed it to his lack of cotten balls in his ears as he would freak from the roar of the crowds, so naturally I can understand and accept that as that is an issue with some horses). The other race he ran a double-digit beyer in was his 3rd start. He was still a 2 year old, and he ran a 99 beyer. His first win as a 2 year old was a 105 beyer, which is not something you again see every day from a 2 year old. His last 4 races showed a rapid increase in speed figures, showing his improvement as he was maturing. Even the Travers, which he lost and was by far the worst of his last 4 races (probably due to his pretty rigorous campaign), he ran a 108 beyer in and ran the 13 fastest Travers in the history of that race. In most years, not all years, but most years, the losing effort from American Pharaoh in the Travers would have been a victory based on times. His Belmont stakes win based on times is one of the fastest in the history of that race. And in case you forgot, he broke the track record at keenland in his victory in the classic. His time and speed figure and hell even margin of victory being almost identical to Flightline's winning breeders cup. And keep in mind AP was only 3, Flightline was 4. I think AP, based on what he accomplished alone, earns him the right to be considered a better horse than Flightline as he accomplished more. Flightline was likely a better talent (alas we will never know as he was never allowed to really run, and AP never even raced when he was fully mature) but AP did more and deserves to be remembered over Flightline. Flightline is very similar to Ghostzapper, in my opinion. Won't be well remembered because he barely raced, but when he did, he was as good as there ever was. I am not going to try to argue my way into making you agree with me. We all have different opinions. Believe it or not, I have unpopular opinions about some famous racehorses as well.

[@menmyrc821]

Bob, all said and done, there’s NO ONE in this race that’s going to be even close to Flightline, if he runs his race and even if he doesn’t, he’ll still beat ‘em just won’t be by 6 lengths or greater, he’s so much better than A.P.

[@silvereyedstacker1842]

I wouldn’t say he is ‘so much better’ than AP because we don’t know what AP would have been like at 4. AP was phenomenal and pulled off something that had never been done and may never be done again, The Grand Slam. But, FL is certainly faster at 4 than AP was at 3. And he’ll have a chance to prove it on Sat. Let’s see who has the faster BC time at Keeneland. Here’s hoping FL is at 100%!

[@menmyrc821]

@@silvereyedstacker1842 only disappointed in the time, I knew he would WIN easy, which in itself makes the time not impressive, just because he wasn’t even asked for more gas, to to easy, love to see him race at 5, but not going to happen obviously, and A.P. hasn’t been the only Triple Crown winner my friend

[@silvereyedstacker1842]

@@menmyrc821 The time was pretty impressive to me because it was a pretty slow track and the pace was wicked. He geared down at the 1/16. That was a real racehorse time, especially on that track. Still ran faster than AP. AP won the Grand Slam, which has never been done before. Only horse in history to win the TC + the BC Classic, which is an incredible feat. Perhaps you haven’t heard that term before. Not sure what your comment about there being more TC winners was about in the context of what I said?

[@keithbishop9759]

Don’t forget this guy cheated for years and hurt the sport. He admitted it.

[@gweightman]

I assume, there is an asterisk, against all his horse's name's, to indicate the level of drugs, in the system. Which to be fair, should apply to most Yank horses.

[@paulmazzone8758]

Give it up

[@gweightman]

@@paulmazzone8758 When he stops cheating, I will.

[@paulmazzone8758]

@@gweightman your just wasting your time

[@gweightman]

@@paulmazzone8758 Learn to spell, before posting !!!!!

[@paulmazzone8758]

@@gweightman So I hit the wrong key by mistake, that can happen when you're 70 years old.

[@JACKDAWFISH]

Flightline is what AP wishes he was. I'll never forget seeming slow to a crawl at the Travers as the track is too deep for horses like AP. Anyway, I won't watch this video as Baffert should get a lifetime ban for his cheating and what he's done to horses. Were is PETA when you need them?

[@bnegs521]

What about all his other wins you LOSER and the TRIPLE CROWN!!

[@bandovreal22]

Your out your mind, Fliteline needs 3-4 months between races to be at his peak, AP won the triple crown 👑 3 races at 3 different distances, at 3 different tracks in 5 weeks, your delusional comparing fliteline to the American Pharoah....

[@makingthecoin3647]

@@bandovreal22 ap ran against one of the WEAKEST classes EVER. I guess you weren't alive to experience other triple crowns before so you are ATTACHED to ap that's ok.

[@liamfirkin2145]

CHEAT!

[@justsomeone9267]

His Tinted glasses are to hide is very dodgy eyes!!

[@ronaldclatterbuck5953]

They finally took the needle from Big Bob..