Life Is Sweet moves to Pletcher

Life Is Good, one of the toprated 3-year-olds earlier this year, is back in training in Kentucky and will be based with Todd Pletcher in New York this summer, WinStar Farm president Elliott Walden said Thursday.

The news of Life Is Good being transferred to Pletcher was first reported by Horse Racing Nation.

Life Is Good was previously trained by Bob Baffert, whose stable has come under massive scrutiny after Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone following a win in the Kentucky Derby on May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Baffert has been banned from starting horses at Churchill Downs for two years and has been temporarily banned from starting horses at tracks operated by the New York Racing Association, such as Belmont Park and Saratoga. Baffert is contesting the NYRA ban in court.

Life Is Good breezed three furlongs in 37 seconds on Thursday at Keeneland, his first workout since March 20, two weeks after an attractive win in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by eight lengths on March 6 at Santa Anita.

Walden said Life Is Good galloped out a half-mile in 49.40.

The colt is currently under the direction of Destin Heath, WinStar’s farm trainer.

Life Is Good is unbeaten in three starts. Life Is Good won a maiden special weight race at 6 1/2 furlongs by 9 1/2 lengths at Del Mar last November in his debut and finished threequarters of a length in front of Medina Spirit in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at a mile at Santa Anita in January.

Life Is Good was taken out of training with an apparent hind end injury after the March 20 workout. At the time, he was expected to be a heavy favorite in the Santa Anita Derby on April 3.

Walden said in early June that Life Is Good had resumed galloping at Keeneland, but did not address the issue regarding Baffert at the time. Thursday, the immediate stabling plans for Life Is Good became clear.

Life Is Good, a colt by Into Mischief, races for WinStar and China Horse Club and is the second nationally-prominent colt to be transferred from Baffert to Pletcher in recent weeks. Country Grammer, winner of the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup on May 31 at Santa Anita for WinStar Farm, was moved across the country earlier this month and will race in major stakes for older horses in coming weeks at Belmont Park and Saratoga.