People will laugh at Baffert's comments, just like they laughed at Desormeaux's proclamation (notice how people just aren't laughing quite as hard) -- in part because they think the comments are melodramatic, and in part because I think some people think they know better.
If Big Brown wins the Belmont and retires -- for whatever reason, real, fabricated, or whatever, he will have won the Triple Crown. Put an asterisk next to his name or don't. That's up to you. But it won't change the fact that he won it. If he wins, keeps going, doesn't win, keeps going, etc. -- people will always have an easy target here. The trainer and owners are an easy target, and always will be. If it wasn't that, there are plenty of other aspects that could easily be critisized.
Anyway, here's a horse who is getting this sport and business noticed a bit -- for good reasons and bad. Take what you like and leave the rest.
Eric
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