Bob Baffert will not likely accompany Medina Spirit. Live performance Tour at Preakness

Expressing he does not want to possibility becoming a distraction, coach Bob Baffert mentioned Monday he will not travel to Baltimore this weekend to view his horses contend in the Preakness.

Baffert designs to enter Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit and Concert Tour in Saturday’s Preakness at Pimlico. Baffert reported assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes will take care of the horses in Baltimore.

Baffert has gained the Preakness – the 2nd leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown – 7 periods, tied with R. Wyndham Walden for the most at any time by a trainer.

“I go to Baltimore to have a good time. It is a fun journey,” Baffert claimed told The Associated Push. “I really do not want to choose absent from the horses. I consider it’d be a distraction if I went. I think it’d be a distraction if I win. The owners will be there. Jimmy can handle it.”

Relevant protection: What to know about betamethasone

Baffert is the issue of controversy just after asserting Sunday that Medina Spirit examined favourable for 21 picograms of betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory drug that otherwise is authorized but is unlawful when located in the blood on race working day.

In accordance to Kentucky Horse Racing Fee polices, a 2nd constructive test — called a “split sample” — is required in advance of a horse can be disqualified.

On Monday, Baffert claimed the end result of the break up sample won’t be recognized for a while.

“It’s going to get months,” Baffert reported. “This is not completed in just a 7 days. … I feel pretty fantastic it’s likely to get settled.”

A day immediately after Churchill Downs suspended him from entering horses at the observe, Baffert defended himself on quite a few Television demonstrates Monday and called the penalty “pretty severe.”

“We stay in a various planet now,” Baffert mentioned even though appearing on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom With Bell Hemmer & Dana Perino.” “This The united states is distinctive. It was like a cancel tradition type of a factor.”

In a assertion introduced Sunday, Churchill Downs declared the fast suspension of Baffert and said runner-up Mandaloun would be declared the winner of the Kentucky Derby if the split sample will come again positive.

“Failure to comply with the regulations and medication protocols jeopardizes the security of the horses and jockeys, the integrity of our sport and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby and all who take part,” Churchill Downs claimed in the release. “Churchill Downs will not tolerate it.”

Read through this:Can Medina Spirit continue to race in the Preakness? What positive drug check usually means for future race

Preakness officers produced a statement Sunday saying the Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Racing Fee would make a determination relating to the entry of Medina Spirit in the Preakness “after review of the information.”

On Monday, the Day-to-day Racing Kind claimed Craig Robertson, Baffert’s lawyer, is organized to file for a short term restraining order that would prohibit Pimlico from denying Medina Spirit entry into the Preakness.

“Hopefully they attain a decision that is one particular we can live with,” Robertson told the Day by day Racing Form. “If not, we will go to courtroom and we will seek a TRO.”

The Preakness draw is established for 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Baffert also reiterated his assert from Sunday that he’s never applied betamethasone on Medina Spirit.

“People in the public do not comprehend,” Baffert reported. “People in my entire world, they understand this is all b.s. Bob Baffert’s not stupid. … We never use that drug. That horse under no circumstances had it in him, and we have the documentation.”