HI HO SILVER CHARM

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What he did was ship Silver Charm to Pimlico for the Preakness and cross his fingers. Because of its shorter distance and tighter turns, the Preakness is the race he thought Silver Charm might not win. Indeed, bettors made him the third choice, behind Captain Bodgit and Free House. In the home stretch, Baffert thought, Free House would hold off Silver Charm. But along came Captain Bodgit, and Silver Charm responded to this new threat, catching Free House at the wire by the bob of his nose. "Free House is a buddy of his from California," Baffert says. "Captain Bodgit he doesn't like very much. Gary told me he wouldn't have won had it not been for Captain Bodgit's late charge." In the winner's circle Baffert decided to wear the Preakness cup on his head. His wife Sherry says, "Bob's always been like that. I don't know if I'm married to a horse trainer or an entertainer."

Unfortunately, Captain Bodgit injured a tendon in the Preakness and had to be retired. So on Saturday Silver Charm will try to beat Free House and six other challengers. A victory for Silver Charm would also be a victory for the industry, which seems on the verge of recovery after years of declining interest. "It's nice being the last jockey to do it," Affirmed's rider Steve Cauthen said the other day at Churchill Downs. "But I'll be rooting for Silver Charm in the Belmont. It'll be great for racing if that little horse does it."

Says Baffert: "If my four kids are any indication, this Triple Crown thing is good for the sport. They finally think it's cool what I do. The other night I got to throw out the first ball in Anaheim Stadium, and my boys met Ken Griffey Jr. Next week I'm taking them to New York for the Belmont. Maybe they'll go to a show or a Yankee game."

Maybe they'll get to go with Mom and Dad and Silver Charm into the winner's circle. If that happens, does Baffert have anything special planned, along the lines of his Derby dance and Preakness pose? "Actually," he says, "I've been rehearsing with my daughter Savannah, who's the same age as Silver Charm. When the camera is on her, I've instructed her to smile and then scream, "Show me the money!"