LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The day Bob Baffert arrived at Churchill Downs last week, he was greeted by two large floral arrangements that flanked his wall of winning plaques at Barn 33. Baffert asked his assistant trainer, Jimmy Barnes, where they came from, then went over to inspect. He reached out and touched a pink rose, as if to confirm that the flowers were real and not plastic.
More wary and a little less gregarious now, the 72-year-old did not stop to smell the roses.
