There are few voices in horse racing more influential than Bob Baffert’s. And with the 150th Preakness Stakes looming, the Hall of Fame trainer is once again making headlines. This time not just for his colt, Goal Oriented, but for his ardent support of the tradition of the Triple Crown format itself.

“He traveled well. He’s a big, strong horse,” Baffert said of Goal Oriented during a chat with Carlos Morales. The veteran trainer sounded optimistic. “It takes him a while to get going, but I know the distance is not going to be a problem.”

In an age where some question the feasibility of running three demanding races in five weeks, Bob Baffert stands firm. He isn’t concerned about the tight turnaround, having built his career on prepping winners who thrive under such pressure. “I’ve had a lot of good luck running horses back two weeks later,” he said. “My horses are used to doing that.”

Goal Oriented enters the Preakness having already claimed back-to-back wins. First breaking his maiden at Santa Anita and then following up with a convincing allowance-level victory at Churchill Downs. He might be light on graded stakes experience and has yet to face a field as competitive as this one, but Baffert isn’t fazed. “He’s stepping it up. He has the one hole. I don’t know what kind of trip he’s going to get… but I’m not worried about the timing. I’m watching the competition.”

Triple Crown still matters to Bob Baffert and Lukas who stand tall for racing’s greatest test

While Baffert is focused on Saturday, he also took time to reflect on the very soul of the sport, the Triple Crown series – the trio of prestigious races spaced over five intense weeks, comprising the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes. Citing his decades-long friendship with fellow icon D. Wayne Lukas, a legendary trainer himself with 15 Triple Crown race wins and known for revolutionizing the training game by introducing year-round stabling and large training operations, Baffert praised the enduring spirit of trainers who are never afraid to run their horses. “A lot of these trainers are afraid to run their horses now,” Baffert observed. “They worry about the Triple Crown being too close.”

To him, the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont are not just races. They are American racing. “That’s why people show up at the Belmont. They want to see history, tradition, something hard to do,” Bob Baffert explained. “If they change them, they’d just be another Grade One.”

As Goal Oriented gets ready to break from the rail this weekend, Baffert’s words serve as more than just pre-race chatter. They’re a rallying cry to preserve the integrity and magic of a sport deeply rooted in grit and glory. Because in Baffert’s world, it isn’t just about speed. It’s about history. And the Triple Crown, unchanged, is the ultimate proving ground.