BELMONT STAKES: A TIME FOR WAR EMBLEM THIRD JEWEL AWAITS BAFFERT'S BIG BLACK BEAUTY AT BELMONT.

Byline: Kevin Modesti Staff Writer

ELMONT, N.Y. - For Bob Baffert, the drama began in early April at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, minutes before he was to saddle Danthebluegrassman for a losing effort in the Santa Anita Derby. On an overhead television set near the jockeys-room entrance, Baffert watched a simulcast of the Illinois Derby from Sportsman's Park and saw a front-running black horse scamper away from the favorite.

``Who was that?'' Baffert said, craning to look at a companion's program, as the upsetter crossed the finish on TV.

Somebody told him: ``War Emblem.''

By the time the drama peaks at about 3:10 p.m. PDT today, Baffert and the horse he couldn't recognize without a program could be on their way to the thoroughbred racing history books.

In the two months since Baffert client Prince Ahmed Salman of Saudi Arabia purchased War Emblem from his Illinois owner for $900,000, the colt has gone wire-to-wire in the Kentucky Derby in a 20-1 upset and gutted out the Preakness Stakes as the favorite to go into the Belmont Stakes as an even-money pick on the morning line to complete the 12th Triple Crown and the first since Affirmed's in 1978. More than 80,000 fans are expected at Belmont Park on this busy sports weekend to watch War Emblem and jockey Victor Espinoza face 10 opponents for one lap of the 1 1/2-mile oval.

Despite Baffert's repeated claim that the occasion is ``all about the horse,'' the trainer is in the spotlight as he chases the Triple Crown that barely eluded his colts Silver Charm and Real Quiet in the 1997 and '98 Belmonts.

War Emblem might represent one of Baffert's best training jobs. Not one of his longest, but one of his best.

Don't believe the conventional wisdom that because Prince Ahmed and Baffert acquired a colt who had raced seven times for owner Russell Reineman and Midwestern trainer Frank ``Bobby'' Springer, they necessarily got a ready-made Triple Crown horse. War Emblem was a head case when he came to Baffert, with a personality that made Kevin Brown look like Mr. Rogers.

``The horse was spoiled,'' Richard Mulhall, president of the prince's Thoroughbred Corp., said this week as he leaned on a rail at Belmont and watched War Emblem jog. ``The trainer had, shall we say, a different style of training.''

For evidence Springer isn't nearly the trainer Baffert is, consider that he wasn't even considering running War Emblem in the Kentucky Derby.

Even if Springer had intended to try the Derby, it's impossible to picture him pushing War Emblem to the verge of one of the signature achievements in all of sports.

Mulhall said War Emblem has become ``a different horse'' under Baffert's care.

``He's a happier horse, he's put on weight, his coat looks better. His whole attitude has changed,'' Mulhall said. ``(Baffert) has moved this horse way, way up.''

Mulhall credited ``a lot of little things (that) make a difference.''

They include the personal touch of Jill Moss, Baffert's fiancee.

``(She) has made him kinder,'' said Baffert, a three-time trainer of the year who has won eight Triple Crown races in six years. ``She gives him carrots and peppermints. She tells him it's OK to like people, even though you can't trust them.''

Said Espinoza of his mount: ``He's more professional, more focused on what he does.''

But it hasn't been such a complete personality change that War Emblem has gone soft.

``He's got that little mean streak in him,'' Baffert said, ``and that's what makes him a great horse.''

Almost by definition, a Triple Crown sweep makes a horse ``great,'' and the same must be said of a trainer who can nurse a 3-year-old through three winning efforts at three distances in three states over five weeks at this level of competition. Having faced 17 horses in the Derby and 12 in the Preakness and drawn 10 opponents for the Belmont, War Emblem will have beaten more horses than any other Triple Crown winner if he prevails today.

There is no single nemesis for War Emblem. He faces five horses he beat in the Derby or Preakness or both - Proud Citizen, Magic Weisner, Perfect Drift, Medaglia d'Oro and Essence of Dubai - and two eye-catching newcomers - Sunday Break and Wiseman's Ferry.

``(Wiseman's Ferry) is the key to the race,'' said Bobby Frankel, who trains Medaglia d'Oro. ``If he goes (to the front), then (War Emblem) has to go. If he can stand the heat and still win, you've got to say he's a great horse.''

A smart ride will be required from Espinoza, a 30-year-old Mexico City native who is one of the leading jockeys in Southern California but not yet a star nationally.

Pressure? Because of the Triple Crown? Because of the $5 million bonus for winning?

``Not at all,'' Espinoza said Friday. ``It's just like any other race for me, right now.''

Baffert, on the other hand, has admitted being nervous and ``testy'' before persuading himself to enjoy his latest attempt at the Triple Crown.

Maintaining a horse's form - or eliciting improvement - over three classic races would be an achievement worthy of the history books.

BELMONT STAKES

--Eleven 3-year-old thoroughbreds are scheduled to start the 1 1/2-mile race.

--Of the $1 million purse, the winner will earn $600,000. If War Emblem wins, completing a Triple Crown, he'll earn a $5 million bonus.

--Post time is 3:10 p.m. Ch. 4 coverage starts at 2 p.m. Hollywood Park gates open at 9 a.m.

--New York weather forecast: Thursday's and Friday's rain gives way to partial cloudiness and a temperature around 70 this afternoon.

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BELMONT STAKES (see text)