This is a shorthand recap of a litigation-filled period for Baffert and CDI.

All the while, horses trained by Baffert haven’t been eligible to race in the Kentucky Derby. Horses saddled by Baffert that earned qualifying points in Kentucky Derby prep races vacated those points.

Workarounds were found, though.

Ahead of both the 2022 and 2023 editions of the Kentucky Derby, horses that were under Baffert’s guidance were transferred to one of his former assistant trainers, Tim Yakteen. With Yakteen as the trainer of record, several former Baffert horses were able to accumulate qualifying points toward and race in the Kentucky Derby.

But this year, none of Baffert’s horses were transferred to Yakteen, or another trainer, in the hopes of making the Derby.

Owners stuck with Baffert despite his suspension. In a show of solidarity, other trainers didn’t take on his horses.

So when as many as 20 horses load into the Kentucky Derby starting gate on May 4 and prepare for the 1 1/4-mile trip around the main track at Churchill Downs, a Baffert trainee won’t be participating.

But, clearly, Baffert will still play an outsized role in one of the biggest events in horse racing history.

Despite suspension, Baffert has been active on Kentucky Derby trail

The latest legal action taken by Zedan to try and get a Baffert horse into the Kentucky Derby was connected to Muth, a 3-year-old son of 2018 Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic.

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