Sunday, May 3, 1998

BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Real Quiet's dosage was 5.29, the worst in the field Saturday. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

LOUISVILLE -- Two years ago, trainer Bob Baffert suffered anguish when his Cavonnier got nipped by a nose by Grindstone at the finish line of the Kentucky Derby. Though it was his first Derby, he wondered if he'd ever get the chance to win one.

Now after victories with Silver Charm (1997) and Real Quiet, that slim margin two years ago is all that separates him from being the only trainer to win three consecutive Derbies.

"It's been an incredible run," Baffert said. "And it's just such an incredible rush to win this race.

"All week, I had been telling my wife it was hard for me to get up for the race. It was old hat, everything was going smooth. But when those horses turn from home, it's just the most emotional thing. I've got to come back for sure next year."

He isn't taking this for granted. Baffert admits he has been surprised just to be able to enter a horse three consecutive years. "Every year we go back (to California), look at our stock, kick some tires, and hope someone will get there," he said. "There's no guarantee we'll keep finding one each year."

Dosage doesn't hold

When Baffert entered the postrace press conference, he said, "Dosage? Where's the dosage?"

Dosage is an index based on pedigree that indicates a horse's ability to handle distances. Since 1929, only Strike the Gold in 1991 had won a Derby with a dosage index greater than 4.00 (because of a change in the classification of his sire, Alydar, Strike the Gold now would qualify).

Real Quiet's dosage was 5.29, the worst in the field Saturday. He was figured to fade in the stretch, but instead, he rallied to win in 2:02.38 on the fast track.

Last year, Baffert won with the opposite extreme: Silver Charm had the best dosage in that field.

Streaks continue

For the 19th consecutive year, the betting favorite didn't win the Derby. The last favorite to win was Spectacular Bid in 1979. Strike the Gold remains the only horse in the 1990s to win the Derby after winning its final prep race. Five horses -- Halory Hunter, Indian Charlie, Victory Gallop, Chilito and Old Trieste -- entered the race Saturday off victories in their previous race.

Odds and ends

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas extended two records Saturday, upping his streak of consecutive entries to 18 years and his most-starters mark to 33, but his Cape Town finished fifth. . . . The crowd of 143,215 was the third-largest in Derby history, ranking behind only the centennial Derby in 1974 (163,628) and the 1995 race (144,110). . . . A total of 1,057 outlets simulcast the Derby, breaking the record of 1,020 set last year.