The Arkansas Racing Commission as expected suspended trainer Bob Baffert for positive tests on both Gamine and Charlatan. Following is the ruling:
Trainer Bob Baffert is suspended for fifteen (15) days, Saturday, August 1, 2020 through and including Saturday, August 15, 2020 for violation of Arkansas Racing Commission Rule 1233. The trainer shall be responsible for and be the absolute insurer of the condition of an entry the trainer enters regardless of the acts of third parties.
On report of Truesdail Laboratories Incorporated, the official testing laboratory of the Arkansas Racing Commission, that the sample taken from “Gamine”, first place finisher in the seventh race, Saturday, May 2, 2020, contained the prohibited substance 3-hydroxlidocaine which is a class two (2) substance, included in the uniform classification guidelines for foreign substances, provided by the Association of Racing Commissioners International Incorporated. In violation of Arkansas Racing Commission Rule 1217(b) “Gamine” is disqualified and unplaced. The purse of the race is redistributed as follows: first, “Speech”, second, “Queen Bridget”, third, “Kiss the Girl”, fourth, “A’int Elmers”, fifth, “Bootytama”, sixth, “Foreign Exchange”, seventh, “Seahawk Lisa”, eighth, “Black Kat Taps”, ninth, “Roadrunner’s Honor”, tenth, “Orquidias Biz”. Pari-mutuel wagering is not affected by this ruling.
On report of Truesdail Laboratories Incorporated, the official testing laboratory for the Arkansas Racing Commission, that the blood sample taken from “Charlatan”, first place finisher in the eleventh race, Saturday May 2, 2020, contained the prohibited substance 3-hydroxylidocaine, which is a class two (2) substance, included in the uniform classification guidelines for foreign substances, provided by the Association of Racing Commissioners International Incorporated. In violation of Arkansas Racing Commission Rule 1217(b), “Charlatan” is disqualified and unplaced. The purse of this race is redistributed as follows: first, “Basin”, second, “Gouverneur Morris”, third, “Winning Impression”, fourth, “Anneau d Or”, fifth, “Crypto Cash, sixth, “Mo Mosa”, seventh, “Jungle Runner”, eighth, “My Friends Beer”. Pari-mutuel wagering is not affected by this ruling.
We are going to have an interesting take and discussion on this situation this week on the Gate to Wire podcast. You’ll want to listen and hopefully we can get some racing officials, stakeholders, and shot callers to listen as well.
