In another blow to coach Bob Baffert’s lawsuit over an ongoing 90-day suspension ordered by Kentucky managers, the Kentucky Court of Appeals ordered the complete dismissal of the cases he brought. to the appellate court.
The orders, introduced April 15, marked Baffert’s second defeat before the court of appeal. They follow Judge Allison Jones’ April 1 denial of Baffert’s offer of emergency relief 11 days after the coach’s attempt to obtain a parole was denied by Judge Thomas Wingate at Franklin Circuit Courthouse.
Now, Baffert has offered inter-subject relief and a separate appeal has also been denied. The three-judge panel said the petition addressed Wingate’s denial of the interim order but not his denial of Kentucky’s statutory adjournment; and Wingate did not abuse its discretion in denying the interim order. Separate appeals are considered superfluous. The court said its dismissal order was not a judgment on the merits of the overall case.
Baffert’s attempt to have his sentence adjourned before a full hearing is held with the Kentucky Equestrian Commission has failed for the fifth time. He had previously attempted to obtain a stay-at-home order from Marc Guilfoil, executive director of the Kentucky Equestrian Commission; a full table of KHRC; Franklin Circuit Courthouse; and the Court of Appeals passed an urgent motion.
After Baffert’s urgent offer was denied on April 1, court watchers expected a process to take weeks or months. Instead, the panel, consisting of Jones, Denise Clayton and Irv Maze, moved quickly.
Baffert’s suspension is triggered by Medina Spirit Betamethasone positive test result after the 2021 Kentucky Derby post-race presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Stewards also disqualified Medina Spirit and placed him in last place. A full KHRC hearing on both of these issues is scheduled to begin June 28 after being adjourned from April 18 last week.
Betamethasone is a corticosteroid that is banned to any degree on race day in Kentucky regardless of mode of administration, administration shows. Baffert’s legal team has argued repeatedly about the rule that only bans the substance if it’s injected, and says Medina Spirit’s failed drug test stemmed from the use of Otomax, an ointment used to treat the drug. rash on the skin.
Court rules say Baffert’s legal team may not request a review of an order denying the bailout between the parties. The Kentucky Supreme Court can review cases in its discretion if asked to do so.
Meanwhile, with California and 36 other states reciprocating the suspension orders of the managers, Baffert’s warehouse in Santa Anita . Park has stopped working. Prominent in transferring stocks to new barns is former Baffert assistant Tim Yakteen, coach on Taiba and Messier . They ran one-two April 9 in the Derby Runhappy Santa Anita (G1).
Both horses will be in the Kentucky Derby if all goes well for them. The first leg for the Derby ends on May 2. Amr Zedan owns Medina Spirit, and his company Zedan Racing Stables owns Taiba, who won the nine-event Santa Anita Derby in just one start. earlier at six games on March 5.
