Jimmy Barnes knows horses, and horses know Jimmy Barnes. For the past 27 years he’s worked as an assistant for Bob Baffert, undoubtedly this country’s best – and surely best known – trainer of Thoroughbreds.

Saturday at Colonial Downs, Baffert’s Getaway Car will be the prohibitive favorite to win the Virginia Derby and, with it, pretty much lock up a place in the May 3 Kentucky Derby.

If you didn’t know anything about the “Sport of Kings,” you might think (cliché alert) the odds were stacked against the bay colt, foaled in Kentucky and purchased for $700,000 at the 2022 Keeneland sales. For one thing, he’s a stranger in a strange land.

Of his seven races to date, winning three and finishing in the money in two others, all have been out west. Not to worry said Barnes, who nevertheless brought Getaway Car from the base at Santa Anita to Colonial early in the week to get him accustomed to the one-turn 1 1/8-mile dirt surface.

“He’s having to do it the hard way, coming on the road instead of staying home and running in your back yard,” Barnes said, “But he’s a good traveler. He’s just a fun little horse to be around … and he gives 100% all the time. I am very proud of him.”

What makes a horse fun?

“Winning, yeah. And a horse that’s easy to handle,” said Barnes, recalling some of Baffert’s best and worst … like “Point Given was a handful. American Pharoah was a sweetheart. Justified was nice but had his moments. They’re all different, unique, but we love them all.”

Baffert had reason not to think kindly, much less love, Colonial Downs. In his only previous appearance here (for the 2005 Virginia Derby, then run exclusively on the track’s renown Secretariat turf course), Baffert brought heavy favorite Senor Swinger … which struck out, finishing fourth.

Surely, he reminded Barnes of dos and don’ts at Colonial. You would think? Not so.

“That was a long time ago. 21 years. That was on turf. He doesn’t bring up anything,” Barnes said. “He just sends me out and I check in every night to let him know what’s going on.”

OK, so tell us, what makes Baffert unique … other than that signature premature gray hair?

“He’s got a unique personality. Very outgoing. He’s easy to talk to. He knows his horse flesh. He’s probably at his best at a sale, picking out horses. Once he stocks the pond it’s up to us to get the horses headed in the right direction,” Barnes said.

At the moment they’re headed (perhaps) for a record-setting seventh trip to the winner’s circle the first Saturday of May. Baffert has seven 3-year-olds with Kentucky Derby aspirations. Two, Citizen Bull and Barnes (yes, named after you know who … by its owners), are the early-line favorites.

For now their attention is focused on Getaway Car, currently seventh in prep-race points with 36. If he wins the 1 1/6-mile Virginia Derby on Saturday (post-time 5:10 p.m.), that will add 50 points and guarantee a starting spot.

“He’s not a big horse but he’s mighty,” said Baffert, returning our call. “He’s fast. He’s quick … but you never know what they might do.”

With second favorite Jack London (initial odds 3-to-1) withdrawn to compete elsewhere, the 22nd Derby, being held on dirt for the first time, seems to be Getaway Car’s to lose.

“Don’t go jinxing me now,” Baffert said.

Note: This article has been corrected to reflect that the Virginia Derby is 1 1/8 miles.