As the ONE and ONLY Baffert critic out there I have to say this one is tough for anybody to have to take.

Baffert has had a good summer and the comeback he has engineered with Roman Ruler are 1 in a 1,000. Fast two year old with chronic physical problems which derails early starting three year old campaign. You rarely see them come back and win big in the fashion Roman Ruler has done and enhance his value for his owners which is what any GOOD trainer is supposed to do. An incident like this may expedite his exit to the Breeding Barn, but a horse with chronic problems was probably heading there soon anyway.

As far as What a Song it appeared originally that Baffert had drastically overpaid for the horse, just like he did with Sort it Out, in a desperate attempt to keep getting the attention his massive ego needs. But as time went by this looked like a ridiculous buy that may end up working out.

And then this.

No one deserves this, no trainer, no owner and CERTAINLY not the animal. Whenever one is up and suddenly retired all anybody needs to remember is one of these incidents and understand the risks that are involved. People who know little about racing still remember Ruffian, and for all the wrong reasons.