The NCAA basketball champion Kentucky Wildcats were honored prior to this year’s 138th Annual Kentucky Derby. After the race, the odds are high that one of two former Arizona Wildcats will be the ones heralded at the iconic Churchill Downs.

Trainers Bob Baffert and Todd Pletcher have more in common then knowing to choose the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry School in which to pursue a degree. The Arizona alums have become the symbols of excellence in the horse-racing world, amassing close to 16,000 wins and $394 million in career earnings combined.

BAFFERT vs. PLETCHER: TRACK RECORD

2012 KENTUCKY DERBY ENTRIES

BAFFERT: Bodemeister (7-1); Liaison (53-1)

PLETCHER: Gemologist (8-1); El Padrino (26-1)

BIO: AGE – BORN – MIDDLE INITIAL

BAFFERT: 59 – Nogales, Ariz. – A.

PLETCHER: 45 – El Paso, Texas – A.

CAREER EARNINGS

Arizona alum Bob Baffert in the dawn hours on Nov. 3 at Churchhill Down in Louisville, Kent. Rob Carr/Getty Images

BAFFERT: $174,872,809

PLETCHER: $218,842,490

CAREER FINISHES: 1st – 2nd – 3rd PLACES

BAFFERT: 2,194 – 1,662 – 1,418

PLETCHER: 13,539 – 2,174 – 1,779

KENTUCKY DERBY WINS

BAFFERT: Silver Charm (1997); Real Quiet (1998); War Emblem (2002)

PLETCHER: Super Saver (2010)

PREAKNESS STAKES-BELMONT STAKES WINS

BAFFERT: 5-1
PLETCHER: 1-0

ECLIPSE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING TRAINER

BAFFERT: 3, 1997-99

PLETCHER: 5, 2004-07, 2010

CLAIM TO FAME

BAFFERT: Only trainer to win both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in back-to-back years. War Emblem equaled the feat in 2002.

PLETCHER: His $27 million plus in earnings in 2006 is a single-season record, juxtaposing the old mark of $20 million plus set the previous year by none other than Todd Pletcher.

Ran into Larry King at lunch and traded heart attack stories.He loves horse racing.

— Bob Baffert (@Midnightlute) April 18, 2012

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