Du Jour, the winner of the G2 American Turf when conditioned by embattled trainer Bob Baffert, has been transferred to the barn of Bill Mott, according to the Daily Racing Form. The 3-year-old colt, owned by Baffert's wife, Jill, in partnership with Debbie Lanni, is being pointed to the Grade 1 Belmont Derby on July 10.
Baffert has been indefinitely banned from entering horses or utilizing stalls at New York Racing Association racetracks after the Medina Spirit Kentucky Derby controversy, including Belmont Park, hence the trainer switch.
Du Jour, a son of Temple City, has breezed twice for Mott at Belmont: a 49.23-second half on June 6, and a 48.62-second half on June 13. Mott said he believes the colt can move up in distance from the 1 1/8 miles of the American Turf to the 1 1/4 miles of the Belmont Derby.
Other horses reported to have been moved out of Baffert's barn include Bezos, Hozier, and Crystal Ball. All three have been transferred to Rodolphe Brisset, reports Horse Racing Nation, but the new trainer indicated the change has nothing to do with Baffert's Medina Spirit controversy.
“It's just the ownership and Mr. Baffert talked and decided to leave those horses around here and not bring them back to California,” Brisset told HRN.
Hozier will be pointed to the G3 Ohio Derby on June 26 at Thistledown, while Crystal Ball is headed to the Lady Jacqueline Stakes on the same card. No target has yet been named for Bezos.
Read more at the Daily Racing Form and at Horse Racing Nation.
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