Bob Baffert suspended 90 days, fined $7,500, Medina Spirit DQed from Kentucky Derby

[Andy Asaro]

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[lamboguy]

this is the cost of doing business.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

this is the cost of doing business.

The loss of the Derby hits Baffert where it hurts though.

[dilanesp]

I should say, the 90 days is clever too. By waiting and issuing it in late February, KHRC has totally screwed Baffert on the 2022 Derby. Because now he would need to win 2 different court cases overturning two different suspensions.

He's going to lose horses over this and that's just great.

[Brisk Urging]

Like others i bet Mandaloun

[lamboguy]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

I should say, the 90 days is clever too. By waiting and issuing it in late February, KHRC has totally screwed Baffert on the 2022 Derby. Because now he would need to win 2 different court cases overturning two different suspensions.

He's going to lose horses over this and that's just great.

he must have pissed somebody off in Kentucky.

[classhandicapper]

IMO, this would be a reasonable outcome if it sticks and was backed by other racetracks. Otherwise, he can keep winning everything in CA and other tracks while waiting this out.

IMO, it doesn't matter how or why Medina Spirit tested positive (assuming you believe the ointment excuse). He had the drug in his system. That's a DQ.

However, if there is solid evidence it was the ointment, IMO that's a more favorable outcome for perceptions about Baffert and the sport. An accidental overage of a therapeutic is different from a purposeful injection of a therapeutic inside the window and hoping it's out of the horse's system by the time they test. However, an infraction that would normally get a slap on wrist because it's a legal therapeutic is getting 3 months and steward approval over who he can transfer the horses to in order to run. So they took his record of multiple recent overages and the reputation of the race into account.

What I don't understand is whether CD's 2 year ban is still in force and this just applies to the other tracks in KY or whether it overrides CD. Does someone know those rules?

[jay68802]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

this is the cost of doing business.

Cost him $7500.00......Worth it for maybe getting $1,800,000.00. And the best part is that he will just transfer the horses to his assistant for 90 days and not lose any of the winnings during that time.

[Jeff P]

Originally Posted by classhandicapper

IMO, this would be a reasonable outcome if it sticks and was backed by other racetracks. Otherwise, he can keep winning everything in CA and other tracks while waiting this out.

IMO, it doesn't matter how or why Medina Spirit tested positive (assuming you believe the ointment excuse). He had the drug in his system. That's a DQ.

However, if there is solid evidence it was the ointment, IMO that's a more favorable outcome for perceptions about Baffert and the sport. An accidental overage of a therapeutic is different from a purposeful injection of a therapeutic inside the window and hoping it's out of the horse's system by the time they test. However, an infraction that would normally get a slap on wrist because it's a legal therapeutic is getting 3 months and steward approval over who he can transfer the horses to in order to run. So they took his record of multiple recent overages and the reputation of the race into account.

What I don't understand is whether CD's 2 year ban is still in force and this just applies to the other tracks in KY or whether it overrides CD. Does someone know those rules?

According to an article at The Paulick Report:
https://paulickreport.com/news/the-b...ay-suspension/

In the wake of a media firestorm around the drug positive, Churchill Downs Inc., announced it would ban Baffert's runners from its races, including the Kentucky Derby, for two years and that it would not assign any points to his runners in races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The New York Racing Association also issued an indefinite suspension of stabling and entry privileges to Baffert, which he has contested in a civil suit, questioning NYRA's legal authority to issue such a suspension.

Both those actions are private property decisions and are separate from the stewards' ruling.

I'm guessing the two year ban announced by Churchill Downs Inc. and the indefinite suspension of stabling and entry privileges announced by NYRA remain in effect pending the outcome of civil court case(s).


-jp

.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by Jeff P

According to an article at The Paulick Report:
https://paulickreport.com/news/the-b...ay-suspension/

I'm guessing the two year ban announced by Churchill Downs Inc. and the indefinite suspension of stabling and entry privileges announced by NYRA remain in effect pending the outcome of civil court case(s).


-jp

.

Thanks. That's what I thought, but it's not something I know much about.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by Jeff P

According to an article at The Paulick Report:
https://paulickreport.com/news/the-b...ay-suspension/



I'm guessing the two year ban announced by Churchill Downs Inc. and the indefinite suspension of stabling and entry privileges announced by NYRA remain in effect pending the outcome of civil court case(s).


-jp

.

Technically NYRA is part of the government. But Paulick is correct they are separate.

[CryingForTheHorses]

This ruling erases all he has done as a trainer, All the great horses he has had.
All the great victories and the celebrations
He will forever be known as being disqualified from the greatest race in the world.
The Kentucky Derby!

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by dilanesp

Technically NYRA is part of the government.

You should make this your permanent signature here...will save you typing the same thing all the time.

[dilanesp]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

You should make this your permanent signature here...will save you typing the same thing all the time.

It's important. It's why Baffert gets a legitimate chance to challenge the NYRA rule but not the Churchill ones.

[Sysonby]

CDI has already said a transfer to an assistant or other colleague who works closely with the banned trainer would not pass the small test and allow those horses to get points.

Maryland has said it will honor the KHRC ruling so it looks like the Preakness is out as well unless they can get an injunction. I could be wrong, but I believe CHRB has said they will honor as well.