Winner of last month's Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita when conditioned by embattled trainer Bob Baffert, WinStar Farm's Country Grammer has been transferred to the care of trainer Todd Pletcher, reports the Daily Racing Form. The 4-year-old son of Tonalist will be pointed to either the G2 Suburban Stakes on July 3 at Belmont Park, or the Grade 1 Whitney on Aug. 7 at Saratoga.
The New York Racing Association announced last month a ban of trainer Bob Baffert from racing or stabling at any of its tracks, a decision Baffert and his lawyer have since countered in court.
“In addition to the ongoing investigation into Medina Spirit's victory in the Kentucky Derby, NYRA has taken into account the fact that other horses trained by Mr. Baffert have failed drug tests in the recent past, resulting in the assessment of penalties against him by thoroughbred racing regulators in Kentucky, California, and Arkansas,” read NYRA's statement announcing the ban on May 17.
“With the ban on Bob in Kentucky and New York right now, our opportunities are limited to the Pacific Classic in late August,” WinStar president and CEO Elliott Walden wrote in a text to DRF. “With Improbable last year, we came east and ran in the Whitney which helped him win an Eclipse Award. We are continuing to evaluate the situation with Bob and will adjust as we need to.”
Read more at the Daily Racing Form.
The post Gold Cup Winner Country Grammer Moved From Baffert To Pletcher, Will Target NYRA Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
