Lest anyone think the seventh race at Churchill Downs Nov. 27 was just a routine maiden race, one only needed to glance in the paddock or trackside for those in attendance.
Churchill Downs Inc. executives Bill Carstanjen and Bill Mudd were on-site, not at the customary CDI headquarters in eastern Louisville, Ky., and local media assembled to capture video of the race and the race participants—desiring to catch one attendee in particular: trainer Bob Baffert.
For the first time since the spring of 2021, when he began serving what was ultimately more than a three-year suspension by track operator CDI, the Hall of Famer was back racing a horse at Churchill Downs.
Back in the winner's circle, too, thanks to a determined effort from the Zedan Racing Stables' Barnes, who, in his career debut, ran down a more seasoned maiden in Innovator, trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, to prevail by a head under Martin Garcia.
Watch: Baffert Calls Return to Churchill 'A Glorious Day'
"I had flashbacks of Cavonnier in 1996," Baffert quipped, hinting he feared his horse had lost by a nose to a Lukas-trained colt.
That year, Lukas' Grindstone rallied down the center of the track to nip the Baffert-trained Cavonnier by a nose in the 1996 Kentucky Derby (G1). Baffert wondered at the time if his Derby opportunity might have been lost. Instead, he would win the Derby six times, tying the late Ben Jones for most in Derby history. Baffert would also capture two Triple Crowns with American Pharoah and Justify .
Medina Spirit, who crossed the wire first in 2021 for Baffert and Zedan, had seemed likely to leave Baffert alone atop the record books, but his postrace disqualification from the Derby for the prohibited race-day presence of the corticosteroid betamethasone in his system, wiped away what would have been a seventh Derby win for the trainer.
The postrace positive and subsequent lawsuits left Baffert on the outs with CDI, who viewed Baffert as having tarnished its signature race. Baffert also had other equine drug violations leading up to the 2021 Derby, including Gamine, who was disqualified from third in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks (G1). These collective violations led the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to fine him $7,500 and issue him a 90-day suspension, which was applied across the country, not just at CDI-owned tracks.
Baffert and CDI executives all seemed ready to put the suspension and medication infractions in the past Wednesday. Baffert shipped the 2-year-old Into Mischief colt to Churchill Downs last week from his Southern California base at Santa Anita Park.
Carstanjen, CDI's CEO, congratulated Baffert with a handshake after the race. Carstanjen said he would be at Churchill Downs most days this week, "But I definitely wanted to come out and personally welcome him back."
Baffert said he also received a warm reception from employees at the track. He praised facility improvements made at Churchill in the years since he has been away, including in the paddock area.
Joining the California-based Baffert in a crowded winner's circle was his wife Jill and other family, plus supporters such as bloodstock agent Donato Lanni, who signed for the purchase of Barnes when he sold for $3.2 million at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale last summer. One of the few missing was trusted Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes, after whom Amr Zedan of Zedan Racing Stable named the colt.
Baffert joked with Garcia that the jockey had "a thousand pounds of weight on his shoulders down the stretch."
In a photo finish, the buzz horse BARNES comes out on top on debut in R7 at @churchilldowns for trainer Bob Baffert with Martin Garcia aboard! 🤩
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 27, 2024
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/SrvH6kCVHA
Garcia also likely felt the burden of a difficult trip. Drawn toward the inside, his mount was shuffled back when in tight down the backstretch, then took dirt in his face behind pacesetting Innovator. Angled out in the stretch for a clear path, he determinedly cut into the leader's advantage to get up in the final strides of the 5 1/2-furlong race despite drifting out and swapping his leads.
Barnes was timed on a fast track in 1:02.97 and paid $2.68 to win as the favorite. He earned $69,000 for winning the $120,765 maiden race.
"So it was just nice to be back in the swing of things, and in Kentucky, horse racing is huge right now because of the purses. The best horses are here in Kentucky," Baffert said. "And I knew if I'm to kind of come here, I'm going to bring a really serious 2-year-old and I did."
Barnes, bred by Jeff Drown and Don Rachel, is an eye-catching juvenile out of the American Pharoah mare All American Dream.
Back in business at Churchill Downs, Baffert can now set his sights on the 2025 Kentucky Derby with Barnes and other top horses in his barn, such as Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) 1-2 finishers Citizen Bull and Gaming.
"We know (Barnes) likes Churchill Down, but I think the other ones are going to like it also. So hopefully we can keep them healthy and hope we're here for the first Saturday in May."
