Trainer Baffert suspended 15 days by Arkansas stewards
LOS ANGELES » Two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert was suspended for
15 days on Wednesday by Oaklawn Park stewards and two of his horses were disqualified in Arkansas after testing positive for a banned substance.
The stewards said in a ruling that the suspension will run from Aug.
1-15. They found Baffert violated Rule 1233, which states that a trainer shall ultimately be responsible for the condition of any horse that is entered regardless of the acts of any third parties.
His horses Charlatan and Gamine each tested positive for lidocaine in two rounds of testing after winning races at the Hot Springs, Ark., track on May 2. The stewards disqualified both horses and stripped them of their purse earnings. Charlatan’s owners lost
$300,000 in purse money; Gamine’s owners forfeited $36,000.
“We’re just very disappointed because we thought we put on a very compelling defense that it was innocent contamination,” Baffert told The Associated Press. “We’re definitely going to appeal it.”
In a hearing before the stewards on Monday, Baffert and his representatives argued that the horses were accidentally exposed to lidocaine by assistant trainer Jim Barnes, who had applied a medicinal pain patch to his own back. Barnes had previously broken his pelvis and the patch he used contained trace amounts of lidocaine. The drug was transferred from his hands through the application of tongue ties on both horses, Baffert’s representatives said.
“People in the industry are aware that we haven’t done anything wrong,” Baffert told the AP.
Del Mar cancels weekend racing due to COVID-19 among jockeys
Del Mar canceled racing for the upcoming weekend after 15 jockeys tested positive for COVID-19.
All the track’s riders and personnel who work in the jockeys’ room were tested by San Diego County public health officials at the request of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Of the 15 positive tests, all were believed to be asymptomatic.
Authentic morning line favorite in Haskell at Monmouth Park
Monmouth Park is having a little different $1 million Haskell this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. What hasn’t changed is Baffert is expected to win again.
Baffert’s Authentic drew the No. 2 post position and was made the overwhelming morning line favorite for Saturday’s signature race of the Monmouth Park meet
Seven colts were entered in the 1 1/8-mile event, which this year is no longer the first major race for 3-year-olds following the Triple Crown. Authentic, the runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby, was installed as the 4-5 favorite.