Baffert horses must move by Jan. 29, or no Kentucky Derby
With trainer Bob Baffert still under indefinite suspension byChurchill Downs Inc., the owners of his Kentucky Derby 2024 prospects have only17 days to transfer them to eligible trainers or find themselves shut out of qualifyingfor the May 4 classic.
“Horses under the care of any suspended trainer may betransferred to a non-suspended trainer and become eligible for earning pointsin a road to the Kentucky Derby race on a forward-looking basis so long as thetransfer is complete by January 29, 2024,” according to conditions posted Fridayon the Triple Crown website.
That deadline is 30 days earlier than it was last year, wheneight horses were moved from Baffert’s barn to three other trainers. Reincarnatewas the only one who got to the Derby. He finished 13th racing for Tim Yakteen,who also saddled Baffert colts Taiba and Messier in place of his former boss inthe 2022 Derby.
Baffert did not immediately respond to a text request for reactionto the announcement of this year’s change in conditions.
The suspension stems from the disqualification of MedinaSpirit from his upset victory in the 2021 Derby after a drug test came backpositive for betamethasone. That combined with previous violations led CDI to indefinitelysuspend Baffert and his horses from all its racetracks. It also triggered administrativeand legal fights over the application of the medication and the punishment givento Baffert.
At first the suspension was due to run out no sooner thanthe end of last year’s spring meet at Churchill Downs. Then buoyed by afederal-court victory in Louisville, Ky., last winter, CDI extended the banthrough at least the end of 2024.
Las Vegas bookmakers list four Baffert colts among their top14 choices in the Derby futures market. Nysos, who has been on a break sincewinning the Grade 3 Bob Hope in November at Del Mar, was best-priced as an 18-1third choice early this week. San Vicente (G2) winner Muth was 30-1, and that race’srunner-up Pilot Commander was 60-1. Coach Prime, who finished third last monthin the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), was 65-1.
Horses trained by Baffert also are not eligible to keeptheir Kentucky Derby qualifying points.
The announcement of the early deadline came with the formal startof the Triple Crown nomination process. The Jan. 29 date is also when the windowcloses on a $600 fee to nominate a horse. The price then goes up to $6,000until April 1. After that, much higher supplemental fees would be required toget a horse into any of the three classics.
Churchill Downs issued this news release Friday:
Early nominations for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds to becomeeligible to compete in the 2024 Triple Crown with a $600 payment are nowavailable to be made online at www.thetriplecrown.com.
The 2024 Triple Crown opens Saturday, May 4, with the 150thrunning of the $5 million Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs inLouisville, Ky. The 149th running of the $1.5 million Preakness, its 13/16-mile second jewel, is set for Saturday, May 18, at Pimlico Race Course inBaltimore, Md. The 156th running of the $2 million Belmont Stakes, the series’1 1/4-mile final leg, is scheduled for Saturday, June 8, at SaratogaRacecourse.
The early nomination phase will close Monday, Jan. 29.Payments can only be made online at www.thetriplecrown.com.
Horses not nominated by Jan. 29 can still be nominated tothe Triple Crown with a late $6,000 payment due Monday, April 1.
Last year’s early Triple Crown nominations attracted 369horses and 13 late nominees.
Horses under the care of any trainer suspended fromcompeting in the 2024 Kentucky Derby or the 2024 Kentucky Oaks (GI) asapplicable must be transferred to a non-suspended trainer by Jan. 29 to becomeeligible for the applicable race. Horses under the care of a suspended trainerwill become eligible to earn qualifying points on the Road to the KentuckyDerby or Road to the Kentucky Oaks on a forward-looking basis after thetransfer is complete so long as the transfer is complete by the Jan. 29deadline.
