Preakness 2024: Bob Baffert is back in the race he’s dominated with a hand diminished by rare bad luck

For three decades, Bob Baffert told himself the same thing: Don’t relax until the saddle goes on your horse for a big race.

And for three decades, he was unusually lucky, avoiding the ankle chips and spiked fevers that have derailed so many would-be champions. This week, the old edict caught up with Baffert when the trainer’s early Preakness Stakes favorite, Muth, fell ill and had to be scratched from the race after an 18-hour journey from Southern California to Baltimore.

Baffert arrived Thursday...