LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Bob Baffert still attracts crowds outside his barn at Churchill Downs, even though most of the focus at this year's Kentucky Derby is elsewhere.

Careful, though. It's never a good idea to discount the three-time Derby-winning trainer.

Who can forget War Emblem's upset victory in 2002?

"I knew he was a really good horse," Baffert said. "I had to downplay it because he was one-dimensional, a speed horse, and I didn't want the other guys to know how dangerous he was. I've never won a Derby where everybody was so upset because nobody followed the horse."

Wimbledon is Baffert's entry in Saturday's 130th Derby.

The colt needed five tries to win his first race. His Louisiana Derby victory convinced Baffert that Wimbledon was a worthy Derby candidate.

But the colt lost some of the spotlight when he faded to fifth in the Santa Anita Derby, beaten by nearly 10 lengths.

"I should be flying under the radar. My horse ran a very poor race," said Baffert, who has proven he cannot be ignored even though Wimbledon hasn't commanded the usual amount of attention for the white-haired trainer.

Still, a stop at Baffert's barn is a priority for backstretch visitors. He entertained 30 people Thursday who crowded around asking questions and laughing at his jokes.

After they drifted away, Baffert got serious again.

"I don't think I did a very good job preparing him for the Santa Anita Derby," he said. "... I was afraid because he didn't like the course. I trained very light for the race. Now I've really tightened the screws on him."

Wimbledon put in two workouts since arriving at Churchill Downs, including one in rainy, sloppy conditions last Sunday.

"He handled it well," Baffert said. "He's really shown me that he belongs."

The Derby day forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of afternoon rain. A muddy track could bother horses that don't like slop tossed back in their faces by the front-runners.

"You'll see their heads up in the air and they won't be able to take that splash," Baffert said. "Some horses just won't run into that stuff."

His will.

Wimbledon will be ridden for the first time by Jerry Bailey. Baffert chose the No. 5 post for his 15-1 shot. War Emblem broke from there on his way to victory in 2002, and it proved lucky for Funny Cide when he won last year.

"I couldn't believe it stayed open," said Baffert, who had the seventh selection at the post position draw. "The speed horses all went to the outside because they just want to clock each other."

The Cliff's Edge was the slight 4-1 favorite. Undefeated Smarty Jones was second at 9-2 and Tapit was third at 8-1 in the 20-horse field.

"If it was like six or seven horses, the favorites are not going to get in that much trouble and you can sort of count on them," Baffert said, "but when you have 20 horses, anything can happen."

That was pretty much the storyline two years ago when War Emblem battled 17 horses. The dark bay colt led all the way and paid $43 for the upset.

"It's an out-of-body experience when you watch that horse come down the stretch and you get the lead," Baffert said. "There's something about the Derby. It's a very emotional race. It's such a huge event and there's so many people in the world that are watching and remember the day."

Baffert would love to have another memorable Derby day with his colt, named for the famed English tennis venue. But he's wary of The Cliff's Edge, Smarty Jones and Tapit, or what he called the "three big horses."

Each morning during Derby week, Baffert not only works out his own horse, but he puts his stopwatch on the contenders to see who's doing well.

"I have left here with more knowledge every year," he said. "I feel more confident in what I'm doing. You see a lot of people panicking and doing things and listening to things."

Baffert tried to explain what winning the Derby is like to Smarty Jones' trainer, John Servis.

"Mentally, you're not prepared for it," he said. "When he actually looks like he's going to win, you're saying to yourself, `Oh my God.'"

Baffert wouldn't mind getting a chance to say that to himself again.