Trainer Bob Baffert’s chance to have a horse in this year’s Kentucky Derby appears to be nearing its final turning point. A Kentucky judge on Thursday denied a request for an injunction that would have allowed horses trained by Baffert to compete in the 150th running of the Derby next month.
Amr Zedan, owner of the Arkansas Derby winner and Baffert-trained Muth who filed the suit, plans to immediately appeal.
The legal battle stems from the disqualification of 2021 Derby winner Medina Spirit, trained by Baffert and owned by Sedan. The horse tested positive after the race for a legal drug that is not allowed on race day, prompting Churchill Downs to suspend Baffert for two years. That suspension was set to expire after the 2023 spring meet. However, in July, track officials added an additional year to the suspension, saying that “a coach who is unwilling to accept responsibility for multiple failures to doping tests at our most high-profile races cannot be trusted to prevent future misconduct.
Baffert, a six-time Derby winner, has since committed no offense in any state. The 71-year-old needs another Derby victory to break the tie with Ben Jones for the most by a trainer.
“I am disappointed in today’s judgment in the Zedan trial and hope to race at Churchill Racecourses again in the future,” Baffert said in a text message to Athleticism.
Zedan filed the lawsuit in April, after Muth won the Arkansas Derby and accumulated enough points to be eligible for the Derby. He argued that the horse was being denied a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and that referred to as a Churchill Downs decision a “personal vendetta” without merit.
Jefferson County Judge Mitch Perry, however, noted that Zedan was aware of Baffert’s suspension and had previously transferred the horses to other trainers (Taiba competed in the 2022 Derby, trained by Tim Yakteen), allowing them to compete in Churchill. Still, he “voluntarily made the decision not to transfer (Muth) to a new coach,” Perry wrote.
The judge wrote: “The Court appreciates the uniqueness of the Kentucky Derby in a horse’s life, but the other aspects at play prevent that factor from fully weighing in favor of (Zedan) and an injunction.” »
Perry added that allowing Muth to enter the field would come at the expense of another Derby participant (only 20 horses can enter the starting gate) and could harm the integrity of the race. “Public confidence in the integrity of racing at Churchill Downs is essential to its business,” Perry wrote in his decision. “It is also in the public interest to ensure that everyone who attends or watches racing at Churchill Downs can have confidence in the fairness and integrity of the sport.”
But the judge did not dismiss the complaint entirely, leaving open the possibility of an appeal, which Zedan intends to use. A spokesperson for Zedan Racing Stables said the owner would appeal the decision “as a matter of urgency as soon as possible”. Timing is everything, as Derby participants must be on the Churchill Downs grounds by April 27.
“The court’s denial of defendant’s motion to dismiss confirms our view that this was nothing more than a transparent delaying tactic intended to ensure that his unfair ban remains in effect for the 150th Kentucky Derby.” , the spokesperson said in a statement. “We are pleased that the court denied this motion and turned to considering the merits of our motion for a temporary injunction to allow one of the nation’s highest-rated horses, Muth, to compete in the race.
“We are disappointed with the court’s decision regarding our request for temporary relief, as we believe the court failed to recognize the significant investment made by Zedan Racing, based on Churchill Downs’ statements that if this trainer does not If no additional violations had been committed, Zedan Racing horses would be able to compete.
Baffert, who is not a party to the lawsuit, did not respond to a request for comment.
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