Baffert Back in Derby Win Circle Baffert and fiancee Jill Moss (center) celebrate War Emblem's win. After losing the Derby last year with heavy favorite Point Given, and then having to scratch Danthebluegrassman the morning of this year's race, it appeared Bob Baffert might have lost his touch at Churchill Downs. But then War Emblem, a horse Baffert bought for Thoroughbred Corporation in early April, wired the field to give the silver-haired trainer his third victory in the Run for the Roses. Bill Finley writes the win was dumb luck, but Kenny Mayne says we could have had him if we just hadn't made it so hard. Cronley: So much for the experts Results | Loser Quotes Coverage: Preakness | Belmont Stakes Derby winner War Emblem off to the Preakness After winning the Kentucky Derby with War Emblem, trainer Bob Baffert is looking ahead. Sort of. Saudi prince buys himself a Derby winner A Saudi prince with money to burn bought himself a horse last month. It was money well spent. Harlan's still a favorite around the McPeek barn The fairy-tale story of trainer Ken McPeek and the Ohio-bred Harlan's Holiday concluded without a happy ending. Saarland sidelined after X-rays reveal bone chip in ankle Saarland was never in the Derby and on Sunday trainer Shug McGaughey found out why. Buddha now pointing to Travers Trainer James Bond will not run Buddha in any of the remaining Triple Crown races. Jockey Day switches mounts Hours after he was supposedly out of the Derby, jockey Pat Day picked up the mount on Blue Burner. Finley: Can any horse capture the Crown? Finley doubts that any horse will win the Triple Crown this year ... or maybe ever. Saarland's Derby Diary: Conclusion Saarland, the colt we've followed all Spring, concluded his Road to the Roses with a 10th-place Derby finish. Eddie Mac: Lessons from Derbys past Too much noise, too many horses, too much insanity -- that's what it's like at the Derby. How do you pick a winner? Buddha out of Derby with bruised foot Buddha, one of the top choices for Kentucky Derby 128, was scratched from the race Friday morning. Small-town cash riding on Wyoming horse Before Lusty Latin's owners left Wyoming, friends dropped off envelopes stuffed with cash to bet on the Derby longshot. Finley: Why Prado? When trainer Ken McPeek replaced Tony D'Amico aboard Harlan's Holiday, he could've had any jockey he wanted. Croney: Nothing better, nothing harder From a sporting or entertainment perspective, there is nothing better than the Kentucky Derby. Winward Passage out; Asmussen unhappy Windward Passage was knocked out of the race on Wednesday by a surprise entry from trainer Bob Baffert. Harlan's Holiday leads Derby field Harlan's Holiday was named the official morning line favorite at the draw for Kentucky Derby 128. Complaints lead Churchill to assess quarantine Churchill Downs will look into whether it should have a quarantine barn for the Kentucky Derby. Mayakovsky won't run in Kentucky Derby Mayakovsky won't run in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Patrick Biancone said Wednesday. Mayne: What's in a name? A Derby winner? Kenny conducted exhaustive analysis on this year's Derby and discovered a sure-fire angle for determining the winner. Final tune-up less than ideal for Harlan's Holiday Is trainer Ken McPeek just trying to keep Harlan's Holiday's engine from revving too high too soon? Eddie Mac: Battle of the Derby invaders Ireland's Coolmore and Dubai's Godolphin Racing are two very different operations with a very common mission. Perfect Drift absent from Churchill as Derby approaches Trainer Murray Johnson and Perfect Drift are so close, yet so far away from the Derby hub-bub. Despite the criticism, Came Home keeps on winning No chance to win the Kentucky Derby -- that's the take on Came Home, the colt who just keeps on winning. Cronley: Kentucky Derby 101 Even though it's America's greatest horse race, there are still plenty of misconceptions about the Kentucky Derby. Baffert covets Frankel's Derby horse A Saudi prince bought Bob Baffert's way into the Derby, but the horse Baffert covets is trained by Bobby Frankel. Kinane out of Derby; Stevens may step in The decision has been made: A Hall of Fame jockey will be aboard Johannesburg in Saturday's Kentucky Derby. Cronley: A thin line between us and them After maligning horse racing's so-called 'experts,' Jay has made a startling discovery: He's one of them. Mayne: How to create a Derby winner How unlikely is it that a former editor of the Chicago Tribune could breed a Kentucky Derby winner? Eddie Mac: A Kentucky Derby fave 'made in Ohio' Even though he's won both the Florida Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes, Harlan's Holiday is still in search of respect. Lukas 'Proud' winner in Lexington Stakes D. Wayne Lukas has a last-minute Derby starter with Lexington winner Proud Citizen. Buddha's best by a nose in Wood Memorial Buddha held off Medaglia d'Oro to win the Wood by a head in a thrilling stretch duel. Harlan's Holiday outduels Booklet in Blue Grass Harlan's Holiday cemented his position as Derby favorite by romping to victory in the $750,000 Blue Grass Stakes. Private Emblem marches to Arkansas Derby win Private Emblem took the lead at the top of the stretch and never looked back in the $500,000 Arkansas Derby. Mayne: Anybody's Derby is everybody's gain There's been some griping that this year's Derby is a wide-open affair. Kenny wonders why that's a problem. Baffert will have a Derby starter after all Baffert has had a starter in every Derby since 1996, winning the race in '97 with Silver Charm and in '98 with Real Quiet. Repent falls by the wayside As the May 4 Kentucky Derby grows closer, more pressure is put on horses to perform at a high level. Filly spoils Johannesburg's perfect record Johannesburg's reign as unbeaten future book favorite for the Kentucky Derby came to an end on Sunday. War Emblem wins Illinois Derby, Repent 2nd War Emblem raced to the biggest victory of his career, leading all the way in the $500,000 Illinois Derby. Came Home aces Derby test Came Home's bravely fought off a stern challenge from Easy Grades to capture the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby.

Kentucky Derby May 4, 2002 Track Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky. Distance 1 1/4 miles Record 1:59 2/5 Secretariat, 1973 Purse $1 Million Preakness Stakes May 18, 2002 Track Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Md. Distance 1 3/16 miles Record 1:53 2/5 Tank's Prospect, 1985 Louis Quatorze, 1996 Purse $1 Million Belmont Stakes June 8, 2002 Track Belmont Park Elmont, N.Y. Distance 1 1/2 miles Record 2:24 Secretariat, 1973 Purse $1 Million

Kentucky Derby Jockey Victor Espinoza knew War Emblem was bound for victory as early as the first turn. Standard | Cable Modem  Dan Patrick Show ESPN's Kenny Mayne drops by to recap the 128th running of the Kentucky Derby. RealAudio  Wood Memorial Buddha edges Medaglia d'Oro to take the Wood Memorial. Standard | Cable Modem  Arkansas Derby Private Emblem battles his way to a victory at Oaklawn. Standard | Cable Modem  Santa Anita Derby Came Home got his third straight win in the Santa Anita Derby. Standard | Cable Modem  Illinois Derby War Emblem wins the Illinois Derby over Repent. Standard | Cable Modem  Florida Derby Harlan's Holiday gets his first win of 2002. Standard | Cable Modem  Fountain of Youth Booklet again outlasts Harlan's Holiday, this time by a nose. Standard | Cable Modem

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