New lawsuit is filed against Baffert and Churchill Downs

Trainer Bob Baffert and Churchill Downs Inc. were sued by a group of bettors on Monday, alleging damages after the late Medina Spirit was disqualified from his win in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. The lawsuit is similar to one that was filed in federal court in May, before being voluntarily dismissed in September by the plaintiffs.

The group of bettors, led by Anthony Mattera, are seeking to be paid for pari-mutuel wagers that were lost when Medina Spirit won the race. Monday’s ruling from the Kentucky stewards noted that betting outcomes were not impacted by the disqualification.

Related: Medina Spirit is disqualified from 2021 Kentucky Derby win

“Despite their important place in the ecosystem of Thoroughbred horse racing, Kentucky laws and regulations specific to Thoroughbred horse racing and parimutuel wagering provide almost no protection to horseplayers while affording racetrack associations, owners and trainers with all-encompassing protections,” The lawsuit read.

A representative for CDI said the company will have no comment on the lawsuit. Baffert’s attorney Craig Robertson said he had not read the suit and had no comment until he did.

The suit said Materra and his associates alone “should collect at least ($1 million) in winnings.”

Related: What they said: Full text of Medina Spirit ruling, responses

The filing accuses both Baffert and CDI of negligence and CDI alone of breach of contract, a Kentucky Consumer Protection Act violation and unjust enrichment. Changes of order after a race becomes official do not impact pari-mutuel payouts in Kentucky or any other racing jurisdiction.

“Defendant CDI’s actions, inactions and failures directly led to an ineligible

horse entering and competing in the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby, its disqualification pursuant to Kentucky law and horse racing regulations and the new, complete and official order of finish of the first five horses of the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby,” the lawsuit said.

The filing details Baffert’s history of medication violations dating to 1977. It accused CDI of not taking enough action to prevent a violation from occurring following the 2021 Derby.

“Under its own rules and pursuant to Kentucky law and regulations, Defendant CDI could have refused the entry of Medina Spirit into the 147th running of the Kentucky Derby,” the lawsuit said.

Monday's lawsuit is one of several by horseplayers against Baffert, with the most notable a federal lawsuit brought by 2012 NHC winner Michael Beychok among others.

The full complaint can be read below.