Nothing in life is easy. Unless, of course, you're American Pharoah.
The Kentucky Derby winner is riding four straight wins by a combined clearance of 22.25 lengths, momentous form that will surely carry him across the finish line come Saturday. According to trainer Bob Baffert, it won't be nearly as difficult as it was at Churchill Downs.
"To me, the Preakness is the easiest of the three legs," Baffert said (via al.com). "The Derby is the hardest. Once you get through there, you know your horses are in top form. It's a two-week turnaround. It's just a matter of getting there."
"I've had a lot of success in the Preakness because I've won it with really good horses," he added. "I've always gone in there and won with the best horse, but you still have to get the trip, the post, everything."
"You still have to be lucky."
A bit of luck, coupled with American Pharoah's powerful pace, will allow him to become the 14th horse to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes since Affirmed did so in 1978.
But it's the illustrious Triple Crown Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza seek.
"I think the Derby sets him up well for the Preakness," Espinoza said. "I think he needed that kind of race. He really only had two races for the Kentucky Derby since coming off a layoff, and they were so easy that the Derby was a challenge, but it was a good experience for his next race."
The running of the 140th Preakness Stakes will be held on Saturday, May 16.
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