Days after a court decision upheld Churchill Downs Inc’s two-year ban on coach Bob Baffert from competing at its tracks, bets and nominations suggested the owner would move the horse out from their coaches in an effort to qualify them for the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 6 at Churchill Downs.
The February 17 ruling by Judge Rebecca Grady Jennings of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky rejected Baffert’s offer to order the parent company of Kentucky Derby to suspend his privileges at any property. any track owned by CDI. Under the rules that apply to this year’s Kentucky Derby, horses in the care of a coach suspended by CDI must be moved to a new stable unrelated to the trainer’s activities by February 28 to qualify for Derby qualifying points in the prep races.
As that deadline approaches, check out the entries for Rebel Staking (G2) on February 25 at Oaklawn Park revealed that former trainee Baffert regeneration was transferred to coach Tim Yakteen. Also, check out the stock nominations for Gotham Shares (G2) March 4 at aqueduct indicates four other 3-year-olds being moved out of Baffert.
Using observations on these entries and nominations, Daily race form first reported these transfers on February 20.
Under the CDI’s ban on Baffert, the 3-year-olds in his care are also ineligible for points to qualify for the Derby. The transferred horses will continue the chase on their next start.
Campaigned in partnership with SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan, Rebirth is one of 11 sophomores joining the $1 million Rebel dollar, rate 1/16- test mile. The son of the 2018 Kentucky Derby runner-up good magic he entered the test on Saturday after winning the season opener in Sham Stakes (G3) on January 8 at Santa Anita . Park.
The four Gotham nominees who will be transferring from Baffert include Arabian lion , Carmel Street And Hejazi to Yakteen; while Fort Warren will be transferred to Brittany Russell.
Tom Ryan, the partnership manager led by SF-Starlight-Madaket, said decisions have not yet been made on the status of the group. National treasures And Fort Bragg . National Treasure, who finished third in the Juvenile Breeders’ Cup (G1) and a little less third on his 3-year-old debut, Sham, is a possibility for the San Felipe Stakes (G2). ) on March 4 at Santa Anita.
“We are making horse-based decisions for our 3-year-olds,” said Jack Wolf, managing partner of Starlight Racing.
Arabian lion breaks his maiden at Santa Anita . Park
Zedan Racing Stables lobbied the Arabian Lion and the Hejazi. Son of Triple Crown 2018 winner justification , the Arabian Lions won their debut in October and have raced three times since, most recently finishing fourth in Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) on February 4 in Santa Anita. 1st place Hejazi, son of the classic winner Bernardiniearned its first win in its seasonal debut on January 15 at Santa Anita.
Carmel Road and Fort Warren are both owned by the same Regeneration Campaign campaign partner. Carmel Road maiden winner (by Quality Sugar ) ended the junior four race campaign with a runner-up in Los Alamitos Futurity (G2). Fort Warren, son of a classic winner make for curly won the lone start last year and opened 2023 with a third place in the San Vicente Stakes (G3) on January 29 in Santa Anita.
Initially, Baffert was suspended indefinitely on May 9, 2021, from racing at Churchill Downs after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, who was campaigned by Zedan Racing Stables, had tested positive for betamethasone—a banned substance on race day in Kentucky. After testing a split sample that confirmed the initial test results, Churchill Downs suspended Baffert or any trainer employed directly or indirectly by Bob Baffert Racing Stables from participating in the races. race or sign up for a booth at all CDI-owned tracks through the end of the year 2023 Churchill Spring Encounter (July 3).
In addition to the CDI action, last year Baffert was given a 90-day regulatory suspension issued by Kentucky managers that prevented him from participating in the Derby and two other Triple Crown races.
Last year, Yakteen saddled a pair of horses originally trained by Baffert in the winner’s Santa Anita Derby (G1) Taiba and runner-up more messy . Each person completes the board. Returning to Baffert for the summer and fall campaign, Taiba won a pair of tier 1 races and finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland.
Horses trained by Baffert qualified to run in the final two legs of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes (G1) and the Belmont Stakes (G1).
