War Emblem prepares for Saturday's possible date with history.

How stupid would that be? He's the key horse in my trifectas.

And I've already screwed over Bob Baffert once before. I was one of the greedy bastards who in 1998 wouldn't have been satisfied with taking in a Triple Crown success in person. No, I wanted personal profit. Victory Gallop was the one. He was four lengths off Real Quiet when they came for home. It was at that point I figured seeing a horse win a Triple Crown in person would be something I could tell the grandkids about. But greedy bastard I am, I continued to urge on Victory Gallop.

The grandkids could wait. There were living, breathing nephews and nieces who'd want to hear about Victory Gallop's win by a nose. (Not to mention Thomas Jo getting up for third to complete the tri).

It's an odd feeling being a part in taking down a Triple Crown champion. (Horseplayers actually believe they have a hand in the outcome.) A huge sigh came from the crowd when the result of the photo was announced. A handful of us who'd backed Victory Gallop kept our enthusiasm to a minimum in the same way one would muzzle laughter during a funeral.

This time Victory Gallop's not running. This time, if War Emblem opens up by four at the head of the stretch no one in the field seems capable of getting by him.

An hour before passing on the chance to take War Emblem for a pony ride, I listened to his jockey, Victor Espinoza, at a press conference. He was asked about the thrill of being the rider on a potential Triple Crown champion. "It's kind of exciting," he understated. "I like to do it."

Espinoza gave out more detailed information when a question was asked by a Spanish-speaking television reporter. But only Espinoza and the Spanish-speaking television reporter understood anything. I did understand what Espinoza meant when he said "bueno" but I didn't know if he was saying "good question" or that War Emblem is a good horse.

Come to think of it, there's little to talk about other than the same old thing. War Emblem is the conversation starter. And no one else is in on the discussion.