DEL MAR — Trainer Bob Baffert is the lightning rod of horse racing. The Hall of Fame trainer has his share of supporters and critics. Few racing enthusiasts have zero opinion about Baffert. But one thing can’t be disputed – he knows the horses.

The 69-year-old horseman has trained some of the greatest in the sport and he’s seen some of the best trained by others. He’s won the Pacific Classic six times, sharing the record with the late Bobby Frankel. He’ll try to break that tie Saturday at Del Mar when he saddles Country Grammer in this year’s edition of the $1 million Grade I Classic.

To do so, he’ll have to beat a horse named Flightline, the 1-5 morning line favorite whose only Achilles’ heel might be his inability to go a mile and a quarter. The John Sadler-trained colt has yet to run two turns, and there are some who say never bet a short-priced horse who’s trying to do something for the first time.

“I’ve watched Flightline train and I haven’t seen a flaw,” said Baffert, who is reminded of 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah when he watches Flightline run. “He hasn’t tipped me off that he can’t do it. This should be his coming-out party. He’s going two turns for the first time, can he handle it? We’re hoping that he doesn’t handle it. You don’t know until they do it.”

Country Grammer, the 4-1 second choice in a six-horse field that includes four Grade I winners, has shown he can do it. He’s two for four with a second at the Classic distance. He prepped for Saturday’s race with a strong second in the Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 30.

“That horse has given me the biggest thrills,” Baffert said. “When I really needed a picker-upper, he won the Gold Cup last year at Santa Anita, came back in the Saudi Cup and almost won that, and wins the Dubai World Cup. The San Diego, he needed the prep. At a mile and a quarter, that’s his distance. He’s a lot of class, and he shows up in the afternoons.”

Then the subject again turned to Flightline. Perhaps there’s another chink in his armor in that his races have been spaced far apart. He’s run only four times in 16 months. Backstretch chatter says he has foot problems, but that and a dime will buy you a cup of coffee.

“He hasn’t gone through a grind like we did with the Triple Crown, (American) Pharoah and Justify, where they come back in two weeks, three weeks, four weeks. Boom boom. He hasn’t had to endure that grind,” Baffert said.

“I’ve been watching Flightline breeze and he’s looked just tremendous. I think he’s coming into this race great. I think John Sadler has done a tremendous job spacing his races. But we’re not just gonna hand it over to him. He’s gonna have to earn it.”

Perhaps spacing races is a good thing. Baffert has learned that over the years.

“I remember I used to have trouble at the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. “By the time we got to the Breeders’ Cup, I was empty. You gotta space it out, and I think John’s done a great job of spacing it out.”

Despite what he thinks of Flightline, Baffert is going to try to pull a Richard Mandella, beat a 1-5 morning-line favorite (Cigar in 1996) when many don’t think he can lose. Mandella did it with 39-1 longshot Dare And Go on an afternoon when he also finished third with Siphon.

“It’s a horse race, things happen,” Baffert said. “You can’t be afraid to run against one horse. I’ve been beaten. Things happen. I’m going in, and I don’t feel any pressure. It will be exciting if we knock a horse like that off. It’s going to be exciting to watch Flightline run. I wanna see what he can do.

“I think it’s going to be exciting. Just the anticipation of watching him run. People love to show up and watch a great horse run. The only one missing is Life Is Good. This should be a good setup for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”

The stage is set.

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CLASSIC DAY

Key facts about Saturday’s Pacific Classic day:

First post: 1 p.m.

Signature race: $1 million Pacific Classic, 5:30 p.m.

Key contenders: Flightline (1-5 morning-line favorite), Country Grammer (4-1), Royal Ship (8-1).

Other graded stakes: A trio of $300,000 Grade II races – Del Mar Derby, Del Mar Handicap and Del Mar Mile.

TV: Fan Duel TV (formerly TVG).

More info: dmtc.com