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As a kid growing up in New England who began his Little League career as a die-hard Boston Red Sox fan, one thing always worried me come the World Series. Of all the teams in the major leagues, why did it have to be our arch-rivals, the New York Yankees, who made it to the World Series? What does this have to do with triple crown handicap racing?

Just as the Yankees have dominated the world of major league baseball, certain horse trainers and jockeys have earned more than their fair share in horse racing. Top trainers like Bob Baffert, who saddled this year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up Bodemeister, have earned more than their fair share, but that’s not always an indicator of future success. Despite having fielded 18 starting horses to post in the triple crown since 2003, only one of Mr. Baffert’s horses has managed to win. Yet he is fifth all-time in wins in the prestigious races a trainer can do.

There are also a number of jockeys still riding who have had more than their fair share of success in major races, but again, they can hit a rough patch and lose for years before shooting again or most likely never. Get back in the winner’s circle. . What does this mean when it comes to triple crown handicap racing?

Whether it’s the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, or the Belmont Stakes, don’t get swayed by endorsements from jockeys or trainers. While connections are important, they don’t win races. I know it sounds a bit strange, but what I’m getting at is that it takes the right horse to win one of the biggest races in the sport and also, of course, a bit of luck. While successful in major stakes races, the trainer whose horse won the 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Doug O’Neill, had never won a triple crown stage.

If you had only bet on horses in those races whose conditioners were successful in other triple crown races, you would have missed I’ll Have Another, the eventual winner and Doug O’Neill’s first winner in triple crown races. The same goes for Mario Gutierrez, the driver who led I’ll Have Another to victory. He was an obscure jockey who had been riding in smaller venues until he rose to fame and fortune aboard I’ll Have Another.

Before the start of the Kentucky Derby, people were asking, “Mario who?” but horse racing fans will never ask that question again, as he is now in the record books and his ride in I’ll Have Another will never be forgotten.

So keep this in mind as you run from behind in triple crown races. On any given Saturday, any jockey or trainer can win a major stakes race as long as they have the right horse. When you have a disadvantage, start with the horse, not the connections.

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