Bob Baffert is back in business at Churchill Downs after a three-year plus suspension by the track owners.
Barnes, a $3.2 million colt owned by Amr Zedan and named for Baffert’s assistant Jimmy Barnes, is set to make his debut Wednesday in a 5 ½-furlong juvenile maiden with a $75,000 purse.
Medina Spirit and Bob Baffert- Photo Courtesy Of Churchill Downs
The long Bob Baffert vs. Churchill Downs war has finally ended
In the 2021 Kentucky Derby, the owner-trainer duo sent out Medina Spirit, who finished first but was disqualified after post-race results revealed a banned race-day medication (a corticosteroid, betamethasone). Baffert was suspended from running his horses at Churchill Downs Inc-owned tracks for what turned out to be more than three years.
Legal challenges to the suspension failed, but after a lawsuit filed by Zedan was dismissed over the summer, the ban was lifted.
Barnes, a son of Into Mischief, arrived at Churchill Downs earlier in the week, and will be ridden by Martin Garcia. Barnes, the assistant, often travels with Baffert’s top horses when they are shipped from southern California.
The colt was unnamed when the Kentucky Derby future wager opened more three weeks, but ended up as the ninth betting choice at 39-1 when it closed.
Nooni, a 2-year-old filly who ran sixth in the BC Juvenile Fillies (G1) on Nov. 1 for Baffert, is nominated for the $225,000 Fern Creek Stakes on Nov. 30.
San Antonio Stakes renamed to honor Laffit Pincay, Jr.
Santa Anita Park recently released its Classic meet schedule, which opens Dec. 26, and the San Antonio Stakes has been renamed the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Stakes, honoring the Hall of Fame jockey.
Pincay, considered among the top riders in history, won the San Antonio five times during his legendary career. He retired in 2003 with a then-record 9,530 wins, five Eclipse Awards as the nation’s top jockey, and a Special Eclipse for his achievements.
“Laffit Pincay Jr. is one of the greatest ambassadors this sport has ever had, and it is past time for him to be honored,” said Nate Newby, Santa Anita’s senior VP and general manager. “Laffit will turn 78 two days after opening day, and we are delighted to give him an early birthday present.”
Other graded stakes races on the opening day card are the Malibu (G1) for 3-year-olds; the La Brea (G1) for 3-year-old fillies; the American Oaks (G1) for 3-year-old fillies on turf; the San Gabriel Stakes (G2) on turf; and the Mathis Mile on turf.
White Abarrio returns
White Abarrio.
White Abarrio was back in the winner’s circle over the weekend.
The 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner started for the first time 168 days and romped by 10 ¼ lengths under Irad Ortiz, Jr. in a 7-furlong optional claimer allowance at Gulfstream Park on Friday (Nov. 21).
White Abarrio’s previous race was June 8, when he finished fifth in the Met Mile (G1) for trainer Rick Dutrow, Jr., who also saddled the horse for his Classic win. After the Met Mile, White Abarrio was sent back to Joseph, for whom he won the 2022 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and Florida Derby (G1).
“It’s a relief,” Joseph said. “That was an allowance race, but it was a Grade 1 for us and the whole connections. It was a very important race. This was the deciding factor for where he goes next as far as [if he’d be] retired. He had to do it well. We asked Irad to let him run a little bit at the end. We needed to see him quicken to see that he’s back.”
White Abarrio will likely be pointed to the Harlan’s Holiday Stakes (G3) on Dec. 21 as a prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup (G1) on Jan. 25.