Zedan sues, wants horses with Baffert in Kentucky Derby 2024

A lawsuit filed Wednesday could make it possible for trainer Bob Baffert to have a starter in this year’s Kentucky Derby.

As reported first by John Cherwa in the Los Angeles Times, horse owner Amr Zedan is asking a Jefferson County, Ky., court to allow his horses and others trained by Baffert to run in the race at Churchill Downs.

Unlike other lawsuits involving Baffert and Churchill Downs, this one does not involve Medina Spirit, a Zedan colt who was disqualified from the 2021 Kentucky Derby after a medication violation. That led to a two-year suspension of Baffert by Churchill Downs Inc. CDI later added at least another year to the suspension, citing the trainer’s lack of contrition. Baffert’s challenges of his suspension and the disqualification were unsuccessful.

“Zedan’s lawsuit is the latest meritless attempt to relitigate the Baffert suspension,” a CDI spokesperson said in a statement to the Times. “Lifting Baffert’s suspension now would threaten the safety and integrity of races at Churchill Downs by changing the qualification rules just before the Kentucky Derby. The same issues in this complaint have been decided by the courts and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, which have repeatedly upheld Baffert’s suspension and the disqualification of Medina Spirit.”

In the latest lawsuit, which does not involve Baffert, Zedan claims that he paid more than $10 million to buy six horses in 2022 in hopes of winning the 2024 Kentucky Derby and more than $4 million to have them trained by Baffert with the understanding that the trainer's suspension would be completed by then.

Zedan claims in the lawsuit that Baffert's suspension is not grounded in any contractual or common law, that it defies the federal authority of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority and that it threatens to undermine the preeminent value of the Kentucky Derby.

Zedan is represented by John Quinn, a high-powered attorney from Los Angeles who has represented Saudi Arabia-based LIV Golf in its legal fight with the PGA Tour.

Zedan’s horses include Muth, whose Grade 1 Arkansas Derby win Saturday would have clinched a spot in the Churchill Downs starting gate, and Maymun, who is expected to start in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), which also has Kentucky Derby points available.

A hearing on the case is scheduled for Monday, according to the Kentucky court system website.

Horse Racing Nation requested comment from Baffert and CDI but received no response.

In a text message to the Los Angeles Times, Baffert said, “While I am not a plaintiff in the lawsuit recently brought by Zedan Racing Stables against Churchill Downs, I would like nothing more than for the horses I train to have an opportunity to run at Churchill Downs.”