Life Is Good Breezes, Goes From Baffert to Pletcher

China Horse Club and WinStar Farm's Life Is Good  breezed three furlongs in :37 at Keeneland June 24 under the supervision of WinStar trainer Destin Heath and will have a new trainer, Todd Pletcher, in the coming weeks, according to WinStar Farm president/CEO and racing manager Elliott Walden. The colt is unraced since missing the Triple Crown series due to an injury to a hind ankle.

The unbeaten Into Mischief   3-year-old previously raced for trainer Bob Baffert, who is currently banned from running horses at Churchill Downs Inc. and New York Racing Association tracks. The actions from those tracks followed post-race drug tests revealing the prohibited presence of betamethasone in the system of Baffert's Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) first-place finisher Medina Spirit .

Baffert attributes those test results to an application of ointment to the colt's hindquarters.

Life Is Good becomes the second graded stakes-winning, WinStar Farm-owned runner to change trainers from Baffert to Pletcher this summer, following Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) winner Country Grammer . News of Life Is Good's trainer change was first reported by Horse Racing Nation.

WinStar Moves Country Grammer From Baffert to Pletcher

In a portion of a text message distributed to multiple media outlets, Walden wrote: "The plan is to ship to Todd Pletcher in the coming weeks with the possibility of running in New York later this year. With the ban on Bob in Kentucky and New York right now, our opportunities are limited. We will continue to evaluate the situation with Bob and appreciate everything he has done with Life Is Good."

Life Is Good was sent to Kentucky after his spring injury for surgery. He recovered and resumed his initial training at WinStar near Versailles.

Baffert has filed a civil case contesting the NYRA's ban, and a court hearing is scheduled next month. He seeks a temporary injunction, legal action meant to prevent irreparable damage or change before legal questions are determined. 

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has not yet issued a ruling regarding Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby. The bans were the moves of individual track owners.

Last week, The Washington Post reported that at least 74 Baffert-trained horses had died in his care in California, his principal base, since 2000, trailing only two other trainers in the state.

China Horse Club and WinStar Farm teamed with Baffert, a Hall of Famer, to win the 2018 Triple Crown with Justify  , a colt they raced in partnership with Head of Plains Partners and Starlight Racing.

WinStar Farm also has experienced classic success with Pletcher, winning the 2010 Kentucky Derby with Super Saver  . Pletcher, who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer, is New York-based.

The speedy Life Is Good went 3-for-3 when racing between November and March, capturing his debut in a maiden race at Del Mar and following that with victories at Santa Anita Park in the Sham Stakes (G3) and San Felipe Stakes (G2), races in which he defeated stablemate Medina Spirit. Prior to his injury, he was the favorite in early wagering for the Kentucky Derby.