Bob Baffert describes racing as a “game of hopes and dreams.”

His hopes were realized long ago when he left behind a ranch in Nogales, Ariz., where his family raised cattle and chickens, to establish himself as one of the finest trainers of all time. That lofty status does not keep him from dreaming of future successes.

“We’re always looking at those 2-year-olds coming up,” said Baffert, 66.

The first thing most people who visit Belmont Park for the first time notice is how big the track is. It’s unusually big. The turns are wider than most tracks. The half-mile pole sits where the ⅜ pole is at other tracks. A mile and an eighth race most everywhere in America starts and finishes in front of the grandstand, with the horses going around two turns. At Belmont it’s a one-turn affair. The width and breadth of the track can feel overwhelming to riders.