Road to Derby Set, Baffert Horses Ineligible for Points

The 2021-22 Road to the Kentucky Derby will begin Sept. 18, but horses trained by the man who has won the most editions of the Run for the Roses will not be eligible to receive the qualifying points awarded by participation in those races toward a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate, Churchill Downs Inc. announced Sept. 10. The Louisville-based corporation will not award points to any horse trained by an individual suspended from the 2022 Kentucky Derby, a new rule that goes into effect Sept. 30 of this year. Among trainers currently running horses, the only individual who currently fits that description is Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who was suspended by CDI June 2 through the 2023 spring meet from racing horses at Churchill Downs, the historic racetrack in Louisville, Ky. CDI took action against Baffert, who has won the Kentucky Derby seven times, after his 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve winner Medina Spirit tested positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone—a therapeutic medication prohibited on race day in Kentucky. In a Thursday release, Churchill Downs made it clear that the practice of an assistant trainer running horses under their own name while their employer is suspended would not add to a horse's tally. Points from any race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby "will not be awarded to any horse trained by any individual who is suspended from racing in the 2022 Kentucky Derby or any trainer directly or indirectly employed, supervised, or advised by a suspended trainer," read the release. "Should a horse trained by a suspended trainer, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed, supervised, or advised by a suspended trainer, finish in a position that would have earned points in a Road to the Kentucky Derby race occurring after Sept. 30, 2021, the points associated with that finish position will be vacated." Several key owners connected with promising young horses trained by Baffert either declined to comment or did not return calls Thursday in the wake of the announcement, including Tom Ryan of SF Bloodstock, Jack Wolf of Starlight Stables, Sol Kumin, and Gary West. One of Baffert's attorneys, Clark Brewster, said Churchill's action is intended to force owners "economically to separate from him, to financially devastate him. That's the true purpose." "That's not looked at kindly in the legal system," he added. He indicated Churchill Downs had "never even had so much as a conversation with Bob Baffert or anyone associated with Medina Spirit, or myself." A hearing related to Medina Spirit by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has also not yet taken place while follow-up testing of the colt's split sample continues. "Why would anyone jump to any conclusions until that is complete?" Brewster asked. He further questioned the wording of Churchill's announcement, noting that the trainer has not been suspended by regulators. "When they refer to suspension, they're a premise's owner," he said. "It might be a banishment," in reference to CDI's move. Among the options available to Baffert are legal challenges, such as one his lawyers undertook in New York that cleared the way for him to run at Saratoga Race Course this summer following a ban by the New York Racing Association. The Road to the Kentucky Derby, a series of select races that award a sliding scale of points to the top four finishers, has determined preference for the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field since 2013. The 1 1/4-mile classic for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds will be run May 7 at Churchill for the 148th year. The field has been limited to 20 starters since 1975. As was the case this year, the 2022 Kentucky Derby will be run without the permitted use of Furosemide (often referred to as Lasix). Points will only be awarded to horses who compete on race day without Lasix in Road to the Kentucky Derby races. The same rules apply for the Road to the Kentucky Oaks series, which awards points to fillies to qualify for the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). Churchill also revealed that, if the connections of a horse have been notified by a regulatory body about a medication violation from participation in a Road to the Kentucky Derby or Road to the Kentucky Oaks race, and that violation would result in disqualification, any accrued points from the race will be revoked until the matter reaches a legal conclusion. Accrued points will be reinstated if the matter is legally overturned prior to the running of the Kentucky Derby or Kentucky Oaks. Primary Road Series Increased by One The total number of races in the primary Road to the Kentucky Derby series has increased by one to 37. The inaugural $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes, a 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds Dec. 26 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has been added to the prep season, which features foundation-building races over a minimum of one mile between mid-September and mid-February. Additionally, the new $100,000 Untapable Stakes, a one mile and 70-yard race for 2-year-old fillies that same day at Fair Grounds, has been added to the Oaks series, which features a total of 32 races. CDI owns Fair Grounds. The $300,000 Iroquois Stakes (G3) for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles on opening weekend of the 12-day September meet at Churchill Downs, which will be run under the lights as part of a "Downs After Dark" card Sept. 18, will again kick off the 21-race prep season. Points awarded during this period are worth 10-4-2-1 to the top four placings, respectively, except for the Nov. 5 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (GI) at Del Mar, which is worth twice as much (20-8-4-2). In addition to the Iroquois, Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and Gun Runner, prep season races include the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita Park, Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland, Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, Remsen Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack, Springboard Mile Stakes at Remington Park, Los Alamitos Futurity (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course, Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park, Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct, Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, Lecomte Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds, Southwest Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn, Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park, Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs, Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, and John Battaglia Memorial Stakes at Turfway Park, another CDI track. The 16-race championship series is comprised of springboard events that often bring the 3-year-old picture into sharper focus. First leg races offer 50-20-10-5 points to the top four finishers: the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) at Fair Grounds, Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn, Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream, Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct, Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G3) at Tampa Bay, San Felipe Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita, and the Sunland Derby (G3) at Sunland Park. The most meaningful races are worth points on a 100-40-20-10 scale: the UAE Derby (G2) at Meydan, Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, Curlin Florida Derby Presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa (G1) at Gulfstream, Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn, Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) at Turfway, Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at Aqueduct, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, and the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita. Additionally, the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland offers points on a scale of 20-8-4-2 to the first four placings. International Roads Unchanged In addition to the primary Road to the Kentucky Derby series, there are two separate series that each carve out one spot for a potential horse from Europe and Japan. The sixth-year Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series again features four races: the Cattleya Sho (G1, worth 10-4-2-1 at Tokyo Racecourse), Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun (20-8-4-2 at Kawasaki Racecourse), Hyacinth (30-12-6-3 at Tokyo), and Fukuryu (40-16-8-4 at Nakayama Racecourse). The European Road to the Kentucky Derby, it its sixth year, again showcases seven races: the Royal Lodge Stakes (10-4-2-1 at Newmarket), Beresford Stakes (10-4-2-1 at the Curragh), Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (10-4-2-1 at ParisLongchamp), Futurity Trophy (10-4-2-1 at Doncaster), Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes (20-8-4-2 at Kempton Park), Patton Stakes (20-8-4-2 at Dundalk), and Cardinal Condition Stakes (30-12-6-3 at Chelmsford City).