Bob Baffert returns to Kentucky Derby after three-year exile - 'It's like I never left'

One of the world’s most famous racehorse trainers ended a three year exile from the Kentucky Derby on Friday. Bob Baffert, the joint most successful trainer in Kentucky Derby history with six successes, is challenging for the race for the first time since Medina Spirit finished first past the post in the 2021 running of the US Classic.

Eight days later Baffert revealed the colt had tested positive for a substance, which came from an ointment but which must not be present in a horse’s system on raceday. Medina Spirit was disqualified by the Kentucky Commission and runner-up Mandaloun was awarded victory.

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Baffert was then banned from having runners at all Churchill Downs-owned racecourses which prevented him from having any runners in the Kentucky Derby until this year's edition which will be run on Saturday, May 3.

The California trainer had an appeal against disqualification rejected and then fought a lengthy battle through the courts, which he eventually abandoned.

With the ban having subsequently been lifted, the 72-year-old has returned to Churchill Downs with two challengers, Rodriguez, winner of the Wood Memorial, and Citizen Bull, who captured last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“It’s nice to be back here, back to the old barn,” he told media. “This is like the Masters, it lasts a week. Everything has to go so well. So far all the horses got here in great shape and we’re happy.

“It feels great to be back. Coming into the stable gate everybody was nice to me and welcomed me back. It’s like I never left.”

Baffert is tied with Ben Jones with most wins in the Kentucky Derby, his six including two Triple Crown winners in Justify and American Pharoah.

Asked if he had any hard feelings over his exile, he said: “We never denied that there was a positive. We were hoping it would be dropped to a class D [category offence] when we knew what it was.

“I don’t feel that way. In racing as a trainer, I’d be mad every week, every time we got beat. I never look back and turn the page. I accepted it and we move on.”