Attorney: April 18 Hearing Set for Medina Spirit Appeal

Arguing for a stay of Bob Baffert's 90-day suspension from training, his legal team said in a court filing made March 16 that "a final administrative hearing" is scheduled April 18, about a month after a hearing set for March 17 in Franklin Circuit Court before Judge Thomas Wingate.

At Thursday's court date before Judge Wingate, Baffert's attorneys will ask him to stay the trainer's suspension pending further adjudication arising from the disqualification by stewards of Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit  from the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs. Medina Spirit finished first but was placed last by stewards for testing positive for betamethasone.

ANGST & KING: Medina Spirit Disqualified from 2021 Kentucky Derby Win

The reference to an administrative hearing in Wednesday's court filing is short on details. Typically when a party appeals a stewards' ruling in the state, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will bring in a hearing officer who will consider evidence and testimony before making a recommendation to the KHRC. The commission typically follows that recommendation, although it's not required.

Baffert's attorney, Craig Robertson, declined to comment further on the KHRC appeal beyond confirming the April 18 hearing date. The KHRC, which is named as a defendant in the case, has a policy of not commenting on active regulatory matters.

Thursday's hearing will be the second time attorneys have appeared in Wingate's court to litigate a stay of Baffert's suspension. At the first hearing March 2, Wingate and attorneys for Baffert and KHRC agreed to adjourn the matter for 15 days. In the meantime, KHRC on March 4 heard a request by Baffert to overturn a denial of the stay of suspension issued by its executive director, Marc Guilfoil. That request failed by a vote of 10-0, returning the matter before Wingate Thursday.

Wingate said March 2 that he would render a decision on the stay request by March 21.