Bob Baffert can’t stop poking the bear.

Already among the most polarizing figures in the sport of horse racing, Baffert got his comeuppance when 2021 Kentucky Derby champ Medina Spirit, a Baffert trainee, was stripped of his first-place finish in February 2022 due to the use of a banned substance. Baffert was suspended from running horses at Churchill Downs for two years, a period in which he dutifully transferred his Derby contenders to other trainers (mainly Tim Yakteen) well before the race so that the horses’ owners might keep their Derby dreams alive.

With his suspension about to lift, Baffert again proclaimed his innocence, which irked Churchill Downs to the point where they extended the penalty through at least this year’s race, which will be run on May 4. In January, Baffert effectively decided to pack up his toys (those toys being live thoroughbreds) and go home, as he and his owners agreed not to transfer their Derby contenders to other trainers, thus depriving the race of some top-level talent — namely the eventual Arkansas Derby champ, Muth.

After Muth prevailed at Oaklawn Park, his owner, Amr Zedan, filed for an injunction to allow his horse to run in the Kentucky Derby. That request was denied last week, with a judge citing issues of tardiness and fairness in ruling in favor of Churchill Downs, which took the opportunity to roast Zedan’s effort in the wake of the decision.

“We are pleased with the Court’s decision today and believe Mr. Zedan may suffer from a case of ‘Derby Fever,’ which is known to spread with exposure to horses and is contagious this time of year,” Churchill said in a statement. “Symptoms can contribute to questionable judgement and in extreme cases can result in litigious behavior. There is no known cure. Nevertheless, we have communicated clearly about the rules of entry, which are the same for everyone and are non-negotiable. 

“Contenders cannot sue their way into the Kentucky Derby. We wish Mr. Zedan well in the future and appreciate both his passion for the sport and his desire to see his horses compete on the First Saturday in May.”

Zedan, who was also the owner of Medina Spirit, is now appealing, with an April 27 deadline for Muth to be on the Churchill grounds looming.

A very intentional decision

To be fair, Baffert isn’t a party to Zedan’s lawsuit, but he voiced his support for a favorable outcome in the wake of the initial April 3 filing. And while Zedan could very well be acting unilaterally in seeking what he feels is justice for Muth, it’s hard to completely separate owner and trainer in light of their longtime business partnership.

Baffert has offered no real explanation for his decision not to transfer his Derby aspirants to other trainers this year, telling the Los Angeles Times, “Nobody is going to transfer their horses. I just remain focused on training my horses and competing in the big races.” (Calls and text messages sent to Baffert by US Bets went unreturned.)

What is known is that Baffert’s decision, in concert with his clients, was very intentional. It’s not like they collectively spaced out on the transfer deadline. Rather, the likely explanation is they wanted to send a message to Churchill along these lines: “If you’re going to ban our trainer from this race, then you won’t get our horses either.”

Undoubtedly, this will make for a less-talented Derby field than what could have materialized had Baffert’s horses been permitted to run. And that’s a real shame, because the best scenario for the sport is to have the very best 3-year-olds running in America’s premier race.

Baffert’s horses will still be allowed to run in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the latter two jewels in horse racing’s Triple Crown. But the Derby stands alone in its ability to attract the most casual of horse bettors — the type of people who bet on the sport once a year, on the first Saturday in May.

The unfortunate reality is the vast majority of these folks don’t care if the Derby’s 20 entrants are saddled by Bob Baffert or Bob Newhart. They pay attention to the race for the crazy hats, the mint juleps, the drunken celebrities, and the chance to cash a modest ticket on a horse whose name they’ll forget by summertime, if not sooner.

Hence, if the status quo holds and Baffert’s horses are barred from entering this year’s Derby, it will have little impact beyond the sport’s most dogged observers. Churchill Downs, however, will care, and if Baffert ever wants to see his horses run in another Kentucky Derby, he’ll have to stop poking the bear.

Photo: Rob Carr/Getty Images