Baffert to attend Breeders' Cup with eye to future, not the past
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Bob Baffert enjoyed great success at the two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup held at Keeneland. It looks he could be ready for more when the 39th Breeders’ Cup returns to Keeneland on Friday and Saturday.
In 2015, Baffert brought only one starter, but that was American Pharoah, the Triple Crown winner who romped in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, capping off what was billed as a “Grand Slam” and Horse of the Year campaign.
In 2020, he had another good Breeders’ Cup, running one-two in the Classic with Authentic and Improbable and winning the Filly and Mare Sprint with Gamine and an undercard stakes with Merneith.
This year, Baffert looks to have another strong contingent for the two-day event, led by 2-year-olds Cave Rock and National Treasure in Friday’s $2 million Juvenile, and, on Saturday, Taiba in the $6 million Classic and Laurel River in the $1 million Dirt Mile. Speed Boat Beach gives Baffert a chance in Friday’s $1 million Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Though he ran two horses in the Breeders’ Futurity here in October, the Breeders’ Cup will mark Baffert’s physical return to a Kentucky track for the first time since May 2021.
On May 1, 2021 the Baffert-trained Medina Spirit finished first in the Kentucky Derby, seemingly giving the Hall of Fame trainer his seventh victory in America’s most famous horse race. A week later, Baffert was at Churchill Downs and held a press conference at which he acknowledged he had been informed of a post-race positive regarding Medina Spirit for the presence of betamethasone, a regulated medication that is prohibited from being in a horse’s system on race day. It ultimately proved to be Baffert’s contention the betamethasone was an ingredient in an ointment he was using on Medina Spirit to treat a skin rash.
The result was Medina Spirit being disqualified from the Derby victory and Baffert being banned by Churchill Downs through the 2023 Kentucky Derby. It also resulted in Baffert being suspended 90 days by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
It also led to a 1 1/2-year legal battle that is still ongoing. Baffert and Medina Spirit’s owner, Amr Zedan, are still contesting the disqualification of Medina Spirit – who has since perished due to a cardiac event. An appeal of that disqualification – as well as of the 90 days Baffert has already served – is still pending.
For his part, Baffert has turned the page.
“I did my 90 days, life goes on,” Baffert said. “I don’t look back, I just look forward. I continue to enjoy what I do and I’m just looking forward to it.”
Baffert has had the ability to race at any track in Kentucky but Churchill Downs since May 2021. At the recently concluded Keeneland meet, he shipped in two horses for the Breeders’ Futurity, finishing fifth and 13th with Carmel Road and Newgate.
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While Baffert was in California that day, he was present at the recent Keeneland September yearling sale.
“I’ve been to Kentucky a few times. I feel very welcome when I go there,” Baffert said. “I love Kentucky, I love Keeneland. It’s going to be fun. I’m really looking forward to it. We have some nice horses.”
In Cave Rock, Baffert has arguably the most exciting 2-year-old in training. His blinding speed has carried him to three victories in three starts, including the Grade 1 American Pharoah, where he beat his stablemate National Treasure by 5 1/4 lengths.
Cave Rock is owned in part by Mike Pegram, one of Baffert’s first clients when he switched over from training Quarter Horses to Thoroughbreds. Pegram and his partners Karl Watson and Paul Weitman have stuck with Baffert.
“Bobby’s always been the most honest person I’ve been around,” Pegram said. “To sit here and see how something can get so misrepresented breaks your heart. It’s tough to win on the racetrack, it’s tough to be popular if you do. Anybody who says he doesn’t work hard didn’t see him work the sale at Keeneland. I think when everything’s said and done history is going to be kind to Bob Baffert.”
The backing of owners like Pegram, partners such as Gavin Murphy (SF Racing), Jack Wolf (Starlight Racing), and Sol Kumin (Madaket Racing) who own National Treasure, and Zedan is evident in the kind of young stock Baffert has in his barn.
“They stuck with me because they knew what went on,” Baffert said. “It was an ointment.”
In addition to Cave Rock and National Treasure, Baffert has brought to Keeneland the debut winning juvenile Arabian Lion and the unstarted maiden Arabian Knight, a son of Uncle Mo who brought $2.3 million at the OBS April 2-year-olds in-training sale. Arabian Lion runs in a Friday allowance while Arabian Knight makes his debut in a Saturday maiden race.
While Baffert has won four runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Classic – all with 3-year-olds – Taiba will have his work cut out for him taking on the undefeated Flightline and Life Is Good – a horse Baffert previously trained – in this year’s Classic.
“His only chance is he’ll come running late,” Baffert said. “A mile and a quarter is not going to be a problem for him. He’ll be prepared as best as he can, be ready to run.”
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