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Trainer Bob Baffert is allowed to enter horses at New York tracks again after the Hall of Famer was banned for a year from Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga for repeated medication violations.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert can re-enter horses at major New York tracks.
The 70-year-old driver was suspended for one year by the New York Racing Association, but that suspension ended Wednesday, allowing him to submit entries as early as Thursday.
“I was disappointed that they did it, but it’s water under the bridge,” Baffert told The Associated Press.
Trainer Bob Baffert can enter horses on New York tracks again after a year-long suspension
He received an initial 12-month suspension last June for repeated medication violations, though none of them occurred in New York.
He was banned from Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga. A panel credited Baffert for time served from an initial suspension, which meant he could return this week.
Aqueduct is currently holding its 44-day winter competition which runs through March 26. Baffert doesn’t usually race horses this time of year in New York with goals at the biggest races at Belmont in the spring and Saratoga in the summer.
Baffert remains under a two-year suspension by Churchill Downs Inc., which sidelined him after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (above) tested positive for a non-permitted substance.
Baffert remains under a two-year ban from Churchill Downs Inc., which dropped him after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit tested positive for a substance that is not allowed on race day. The ban expires shortly after the Kentucky Derby in May. However, Baffert is fighting the suspension in federal court.
The Southern California-based trainer has a big weekend across the country, though not in New York, with horses racing on three tracks on Saturday.
Defunded is participating in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream in Florida, where Baffert’s assistant Jimmy Barnes will be in attendance.
The Southern California-based trainer has a big weekend across the country.
Arabian Knight enters the $750,000 Southwest Stakes as the early favorite at Oaklawn in Arkansas. Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby prep race a record-tying five times, and will travel to Hot Springs to see the 3-year-old colt.
It will be a good test for him. The only way to find out is to make it run a long time,” he said. “It’s going to take a top horse to do that and I hope it is.”
The Southwest offers Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers. Arabian Knight will not receive any points regardless of placement due to the Baffert Derby ban.
Hopper will run in the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.
On Sunday at the same track, Baffert entered four of the five horses that will run in the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes for 3-year-olds.