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CNN Live Today
War Emblem Leads Pack Every Step of Way to Win Kentucky Derby
Aired May 06, 2002 - 10:46 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: If you haven't seen it by now, it was a thrilling race at Churchill Downs this weekend, despite the fact the winner was never challenged. War Emblem led the pack every step of the way to win the Kentucky Derby. He left the gate as a 20-to-one longshot and came home a hero. Trainer Bob Baffert didn't even have this derby entry until three weeks ago, and that's when Saudi Prince Ahmed Salman bought War Emblem for $1 million. This is the third derby-winning horse for Baffert.
In the winners circle, the prince told the crowd, "I love you guys in America."
Well, what's next in the run for the riches, after the derby?
Jason Levin is the author of the book, "From the Desert to the Derby: About the Quest to Win the World's Most Famous Horserace." And he's with us by phone now from Louisville, Kentucky.
Jason, good morning.
JASON LEVIN, AUTHOR, "FROM THE DESERT TO THE DERBY": Good morning, happy to be here.
KAGAN: I take it you were at the derby.
LEVIN: I was, and I was as stunned as everybody by the result.
KAGAN: I guess you were. Nobody was even more stunned. You have Bob Baffert. You have the Saudi prince. And then you have the jockey, Victor Espinoza. This is only his second ride in the Kentucky Derby, didn't even meet the horse, Jason, didn't meet this horse until the morning of the derby.
This is not a recipe for success.
LEVIN: Not usually, but I'd say that was a date that worked out quite well for everybody.
KAGAN: Tell us a little bit more about the horse. Why would a horse so promising come up for sale three weeks before the derby.
LEVIN: His connections, the owner and trainer had never been to the derby, and they felt that they had a better chance in the Preakness. They actually went on record and said, despite big win in Illinois, they weren't going to run him in the Kentucky Derby, and that's what alerted Bob Baffert and Prince Salman to the fact that the horse might be available for the right price, so they went ahead and took their shot.
KAGAN: All right, I just missed your entire answer there, because we had some kind of technical problems, so I'm just going to move on there. War Emblem, does he now become the favorite for the Preakness and the Belmont?
LEVIN: He's absolutely the favor for the Preakness. The Belmont's a different story. That's a longer race. One step at a time on the triple-crown trail. But yes, he's the favorites and they'll be gunning for him, so I doubt he'll get an easy lead like he did in the derby, because we will have the big bull's-eye on him.
KAGAN: In fact, wasn't the trainer who was working with him before, Baffert got him, was actually training him for the Preakness.
LEVIN: Yes.
KAGAN: So there's a chance he could be even better at the Preakness?
LEVIN: It's possible, but the derby can take a lot out of a horse. So yes, like you said, they'll be a bullseye on his back, and I doubt he'll get that easy lead and a chance to relax at any point in the Preakness, so it makes it a very intriguing race.
KAGAN: Some critics look at Bob Baffert and at the prince and say, oh, come on, you spent a million bucks. You just bought yourself a derby win. Is that a fair criticism, or is that just the way the game's played? You wrote a whole book on how much money is spent in this race.
LEVIN: Yes, that is really the way the game is prayed. I think it's ironic the gentleman I wrote about Sheikh Mohamed, he spent 40 or 50 million just to get a horse into this race. And then one of his arch rivals, Prince Salman, goes ahead and buys a horse for a million bucks three weeks out, and he wins it. But, you know, anybody could have bought that horse. You have to give Baffert and the prince credit for seizing the opportunity and making the most of it.
KAGAN: And even if War Emblem does not go on to win the Preakness or the Belmont, what will his life be like from here, not too shabby, I imagine.
LEVIN: Well, it's a heck of lot better than it was three days ago, and he's definitely a prospect in the breeding shed right now. His sire, Our Emblem, is much hotter right now, so people are breeding their horses to Our Emblem based on what War Emblem did, and we'll see what he does down the line before we determine exactly where his place is, but as far as place in history, it's secure. He won the derby.
KAGAN: And that is a good thing, the run for the races.
Jason Levin, thank you so much. LEVIN: Thanks for having me.
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