Baffert Commits to Changes to Prevent Failed Drug Tests

Trainer Bob Baffert believes a rash of failed post-race drug tests this season has been caused by contamination, and he vowed Nov. 4 to do a better job at preventing such occurrences.

Standing outside his barn on the Keeneland backstretch, where he's preparing a trio of top contenders for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), Baffert said he plans to make changes in protocol.

"We're going to deal with it; we're going to get better. I always thought I ran a tight ship, but I can't run it like a barn; I need to run it like a hospital. We're going to do better," Baffert said. "It's embarrassing. I don't like what I've been going through. It's not only been tough on me but on my family."

While the Southern California-based Hall of Fame trainer is enjoying another top season on the track with standouts like Whitney Stakes (G1) winner Improbable , Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Authentic, and TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) winner Maximum Security , he's had horses fail four post-race drug tests since early May.

Accounting for two of those is two-time grade 1-winning 3-year-old filly Gamine, the 7-5 morning-line favorite in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1). The Into Mischief  filly's first positive followed a May 2 allowance-level race at Oaklawn Park, and the second followed her third-place finish in the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) Sept. 4 at Churchill Downs.

In the Oaklawn race, Gamine finished first but was disqualified to last after testing positive for lidocaine, a local anesthetic that is a recognized therapeutic medication in racing that carries a withdrawal guideline of 72 hours.

That same day at Oaklawn, Baffert-trained Charlatan won a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1) but also tested positive for lidocaine and was disqualified. Baffert, who was suspended 15 days by the Arkansas Racing Commission, is appealing those decisions—arguing the positives were caused by environmental contamination linked to an employee's pain patch.

Gamine's failed drug test after the Oaks registered a positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone. Though it is also a recognized therapeutic, Kentucky rules call for a 14-day withdrawal time and a violation for any detectable level. An attorney for Baffert said the filly received betamethasone 18 days before the Oaks.

The failed test was acknowledged Oct. 22, but the case has not gone before the stewards.

On Oct. 27, the California Horse Racing Board filed a complaint against Baffert after his runner Merneith tested positive for dextrorphan after a runner-up finish in an allowance-level race July 25 at Del Mar. Baffert's attorney linked that positive, which calls for a Class B penalty, to a groom's use of cough medicine, DayQuil or NyQuil.

Adding to that, stewards in Southern California conducted a hearing Oct. 29 looking at scopolamine positives for Baffert-trained Justify  and Hoppertunity  in 2018. The CHRB initially took no action after its equine medical director said the failed tests were likely caused by environmental contamination linked to jimson weed.

Besides promising to double down efforts Wednesday morning outside his barn, Baffert also issued a news release outlining specific changes:

"Given what has transpired this year, I intend to do everything possible to ensure I receive no further medication complaints," he said in the release. "As such, I want to announce that, beginning immediately, I plan to implement the following procedures in an effort to make my barn one of the leaders in best practices and rule compliance:

"I am retaining Dr. Michael Hore of the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute to add an additional layer of protection to ensure the well-being of horses in my care and rule compliance.     

"I am increasing the training and awareness of all my employees when it comes to proper protocols.

"I am personally increasing my oversight and commitment to running a tight ship and being careful that protective measures are in place." 

Baffert said things will improve.

"It's been a tough year, and a lot of the stuff that happened was just sort of—really no intent was made there to do anything wrong," Baffert said. "We're gonna deal with it. We're gonna get better."