Bob Baffert edged closer to complete stable shutdown after latest legal setback

The Kentucky Court of Appeals has denied Bob Baffert's request for an emergency stay of a 90-day ban, the latest in a series of legal setbacks for the Hall of Fame trainer in his fight against two separate suspensions connected to Medina Spirit's positive test after the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

The court on Friday dismissed Baffert's claim that his suspension, due to come into force on Sunday, would cause "irreparable injury before the matter can be heard in due course".

The case before the Court of Appeals applies to the suspension handed down by Kentucky stewards after they disqualified Medina Spirit in February, nine months after the positive test for betamethasone was revealed.

Baffert is contesting a separate two-year ban on the part of Churchill Downs against having runners at their tracks, one which also prohibits the trainer's horses from earning points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby in 2022 and 2023. The next legal challenge to that ban moves to federal court, where a hearing on a preliminary injunction motion is set for April 15.

With the clock ticking for this year's Kentucky Derby on May 7, the Churchill Downs ban led Baffert to move three of his best three-year-olds to the barn of former assistant Tim Yakteen last month, as well as a fourth to Rodolphe Brisset.

Medina Spirit: tested positive after the 2021 Kentucky DerbyCredit: Benoit Photo

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission ban, which will be honoured by racing jurisdictions across the country, will result in Baffert having to disband his southern California stable due to California Horse Racing Board rule 1843.3, which mandates any trainer who receives a suspension of 60 days or more be banned from all CHRB-licensed facilities.

After the Appeal Court's rejection of the appeal, Baffert's attorney Clark Brewster said: "We were disappointed by today's decision, but it's important to understand that the court made it clear that it denied the stay purely on procedural grounds and not on the merits, all of which point to Bob ultimately winning this case.

"We will continue to fight for Bob's ability to race and win in Kentucky and against the injustice of KHRC against Bob."

More on this story

Medina Spirit disqualified from Kentucky Derby win with Bob Baffert suspended

Baffert to appeal against 'biased' Medina Spirit Kentucky Derby disaqualification

What would happen if Bob Baffert wanted a runner in Britain?

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