Baffert sues two social-media posters for defamation and extortion

Bob Baffert, the Hall of Fame trainer, has filed a lawsuit alleging defamation and extortion against two New Jersey residents based on posts the pair have made on the social-media website X, formerly known as Twitter.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Wednesday, accuses Justin Wunderler and Daniel DiCorcia of “an escalating pattern of outrageous behavior” against Baffert that is “specifically intended to accrue more followers and personal monetary gain.”

Wunderler posts on X under the profile @SwiftHitter and has more than 12,600 followers, according to X. DiCorcia posts under the profile @barshoeforlife and has more than 15,700 followers, according to X.

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The lawsuit seeks a punitive award “in excess of this court’s jurisdictional minimum to deter similar conduct by defendants and others” as well as compensatory damages in excess of $75,000. It also asks the judge to provide “such injunctive relief as the court may deem appropriate or necessary to protect plaintiff's rights.”

The lawsuit specifically cites instances in which Wunderler or DiCorcia allegedly urged followers to physically harm Baffert and members of his family and a series of posts by Wunderler in which he alleges to have video that would “end Baffert” if it were released. The suit says that Wunderler and Dicorcia sent a text message to Baffert demanding money in exchange for a promise not to release the video.

The suit also alleges that Wunderler and DiCorcia repeatedly posted allegations that Baffert used the illegal blood-doping drug erythropoietin on his horses.

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