Re: Pletcher (263 Views)
Posted by: catcapper (IP Logged)
Date: July 23, 2026 02:21PM

To add some context to Silver's point
Baffert last won the KY Derby in 2021 with Medina spirit. We all know the story there the horse was disqualified for medication violation.-----for which Baffert once again tried to blame the groom, this time instead of being due to urinating in the stall, it was blamed on the groom for applying a steroid topical to a skin condition.

Now these big barns that have pulled horses since then, as silver has pointed out, aren't 'mushroom' owners, there are real horsemen in those staffs.
Now it's quite plausible and unprovable as to whether or not a positive occurred because a Groom, who is on even over-the-counter medication urinated in a stall, and the horse aid a piece of straw this can happen.
However, it's going too far to blame it on a steroidal topical. Any veterinarian prescribing such or giving such to a trainer alerts them to the steroidal content and that they can test positive because of it, and that they need to stop using it so many days out of a race.
Every trainer knows this and it's either deceptive of Baffert or it is absolute incompetence and lack of due diligence on his part not to oversee and manage it's use. A good trainer alerts his groom, and a good groom understands.
So, I for one do not believe it. I don't believe it was the groom's fault one bit. And it's very condescending and arrogant for Baffert to try to pull this one. Does he really think the people that run these farms are that stupid? Or are he and Barnes sometimes that incompetent?

This could well have been the final straw for many big owners.

Silver is spot on

Which means young up-and-coming trainers will have better blood stock and more room to grow. If they learn their lessons from all of this, it will have beneficial effect for on the sport and the industry.

You want young people to come into the business into the sport? then give them a chance
These guys with their own vets and they're 40, 50, 60 head of two-year-olds is something the sport needs to get past



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Re: Pletcher (263 Views) catcapper 07/23/2026 02:21PM
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