If anyone can use a mood fixer-upper, it’s definitely Bob Baffert. The celebrity horse trainer has fallen short of his typical season – not a single podium finish at the Triple Crown this year, a race widely considered the Hall of Famer’s favorite stomping ground. And yet, as the Breeders’ Cup approaches, it seems Baffert still holds a significant advantage over his peers.

While the Kentucky Derby defines the sport for the casual fans, the real ones know: it’s the Breeders’ Cup where it’s at. Baffert has noted his love for the annual horse racing event by calling it the “All-Star game of horse racing“. As another edition of the Cup looms over us, Baffert stands firmly ahead of most of his peers named for the Cup’s various races.

Equibase took to X on September 26 to bring our attention to how Baffert still leads the pack with his numerous wins. “Top 10 trainers in G1 races in North America by wins since 1976,” the post caption reads, before it shares the list, which Bob Baffert leads with a whopping 260 wins. His closest follower is the late D. Wayne Lukas, one of the former’s closest friends, with 222 wins under his belt.

Baffert’s stats are even more impressive because he couldn’t add to his résumé during his suspension from Churchill Downs between 2021 and 2024. After Median Spirit’s failed post-match drug test following his Kentucky Derby win, the horse’s trainer was barred from the CDI grounds for three years. Yet, as per the latest Equibase post, it’s easy to understand that the prolonged absence barely dented Baffert’s exceptionally sharp nose for winning.

Then again, is it really that surprising? After all, Bob Baffert is the winningest trainer ever in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the Breeders’ Cup’s flagship event. With four Classic wins to his name already, his subsequent victory will undoubtedly cement the 72-year-old’s status in the history books. Moreover, the Nogales, Arizona, native is also the trend-setter regarding the Triple Crown.

Baffert trained American Pharaoh and Justify, who won all three jewels of the Triple Crown in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Along with that, the trainer also has the most Triple Crown race wins under his belt (17). Lukas sits in second place with 15 Triple Crown race wins. Goes without saying that Baffert’s graded results are in a league of their own.

And with the Breeders’ Cup on the horizon, he will only have more chances to extend his lead over the others.

It will not be a walk in the park for Bob Baffert at Del Mar

Earlier this year, D. Wayne Lukas passed away at 89. While the entire community was heartbroken by the demise of the horse racing legend, for Baffert, it felt like a personal loss. “I’ll miss him every day,” wrote Bob in a social media post. So, at the Breeders’ Cup, don’t be prepared if Bob looks to pay his respects to his fallen comrade. And Baffert will have a lot of chances to do so!

The trainer has entered the Breeders’ Cup Classic with one horse and the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with three horses. Goal Oriented, the third-place finisher of both the Haskell Stakes and the Pennsylvania Derby, will raise Baffert’s banner in both races. Meanwhile, Nysos, July’s San Diego handicap (Grade 2) winner, and Citizen Bull will represent him in the Dirt Mile only. That said, his horses will have to run for their money if they hope to help Baffert extend his Grade 1 win stats.

Mystik Dan, the 2024 Kentucky Derby winner, has been entered in the Dirt Mile with Chancer McPatrick, trained by Chad Brown. In the flagship race, slated for November 1, Baffert will have to face Gosger, this year’s second-place finisher at the Preakness Stakes. Todd Pletcher, the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Classic-winning trainer, will also place his bets to win the race this time with Mindframe and Antiquarian.

If these names weren’t enough, Sovereignty (the 2025 Derby and Belmont Stakes winner) and Journalism (the 2025 Preakness winner) are set to reignite their fierce rivalry at Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Sierra Leone, Chad Brown’s Classic winner from last year, will make the field even more competitive.

With so many A-listers, do you think Bob Baffert will find his 261st Grade 1 win next month? Or will he fall prey to his sturdier opponents?