Bob Baffert seems to be popping up all over the place. Everyone’s talking about the Kentucky Derby, especially when it comes to him and his two horses, Rodriguez and Citizen Bull. So, it looks like neither of them has the best odds—Rodriguez is sitting at 12-1, while Citizen Bull is at 20-1. Totally get it! It must be really frustrating for someone returning to Churchill Downs after being away for three years. Looking for a way to find redemption? For sure! But, you know, Baffert has definitely had his ups and downs during the prep races. He always knows to give his competition the respect they deserve.

Recently, Zedan Racing Stables, Inc shared a really interesting picture on X that grabbed a lot of attention. The caption said, “Class,” as Bob Baffert knelt down to fellow Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The picture really packs a punch. They’ve both been training horses for decades, and even in 2025, you can catch their colts running at the Kentucky Derby.

Baffert and Lukas have one of the most significant mentor-protégé relationships in today’s horse racing scene. “I’m in awe of him, what he’s doing. And he is still very competitive. And I enjoy talking to him, because he’s so knowledgeable. I’ve always told him that the reason he was so successful, he’s so overqualified to be a horse trainer. And he’s got a master’s or whatever, he’s a coach, and that’s why he’s been so successful,” Baffert said last year. This really shows how much respect the 72-year-old has for his fellow Hall of Famer.

Lukas really changed the game for large-scale stable management and had a big impact on Baffert when he made the switch from training Quarter Horses to Thoroughbreds back in the 1990s. Baffert has often said that Lukas showed him the ropes when it comes to managing top-tier horses, traveling across the country, and competing at the highest levels of the sport.

Even though Baffert turned into a superstar himself, racking up multiple Kentucky Derby wins and two Triple Crowns, he’s always been open about how much Lukas has influenced his career. Do you know which horse Lukas is gearing up to run at the Kentucky Derby?

Bob Baffert’s rival in the Kentucky Derby

A mentor becoming a rival is definitely as dramatic as it sounds. Bob Baffert definitely draws some inspiration from D Wayne Lukas, but he’s also excited to see Citizen Bull and Rodriguez go up against American Promise. What’s the deal with this horse? Lukas has led American Promise, a chestnut colt whose sire is the 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, all the way to the 2025 Kentucky Derby.

Even though he had a bit of a rocky beginning to his career, with finishes of sixth in the Southwest Stakes and fifth in the Risen Star Stakes, he did break his maiden in his sixth start at Oaklawn Park. The colt really made a name for himself with an impressive 7 3/4-length win in the Virginia Derby, breaking the track record for 1 1/8 miles and snagging 50 Derby qualifying points.

American Promise is heading into the Derby with a career record of 9 starts, which includes 2 wins, 1 second place, and 1 third place, along with earnings of $444,874. It looks like a promising longshot! Lukas, now 89, is going for his fifth Kentucky Derby win, which would make him the oldest trainer to pull this off.