Horse racing's household name will miss the 150th Kentucky Derby. Bob Baffert is exiled for 3rd year

The 150th Kentucky Derby is missing horse racing’s household name: Bob Baffert.

The Hall of Fame trainer with a record-tying six victories won't be saddling a contender in Saturday's Run for the Roses for the third consecutive year.

Last July, Baffert had another year tacked on to his two-year suspension by Churchill Downs Inc., which was set to expire in 2023. The additional punishment came despite no positive drug or medication tests involving the 71-year-old trainer's horses during that time.

CDI imposed the original penalty after Baffert’s 2021 Derby winner, Medina Spirit, flunked a post-race drug test. The colt tested positive for a legal medication that isn’t allowed on race day in Kentucky. Medina Spirit was later disqualified.

That led to two years of lawsuits, but Baffert failed in his attempts to be reinstated by Churchill Downs or have Medina Spirit’s victory restored. In January, Baffert said he was dropping his legal challenges against CDI. His move didn't thaw the frosty relations between the two sides.

“A trainer who is unwilling to accept responsibility for multiple drug test failures in our highest-profile races cannot be trusted to avoid future misconduct,” CDI said in extending the suspension. “Mr. Baffert will remain suspended from entering horses at all racetracks owned by CDI through 2024. After such time, we will re-evaluate his status.”

The suspension prevented any Baffert horse from accumulating Derby qualifying points, which decide the 20-horse field for the race.

Technically, no.

The last two years, the owners of Baffert's top contenders transferred their horses to another trainer so they could run in the Derby. But this year, in evidence of their loyalty to Baffert, none of them did so.

Owner Amr Zedan made a last-ditch effort to try to get Arkansas Derby winner Muth into the 150th Derby. He sued in early April.

However, the Kentucky Court of Appeals recently denied a motion for a temporary injunction that would have allowed Muth into the race despite the suspension of Baffert, who was not a party to the lawsuit.

Zedan owned Medina Spirit, who died after a workout in December 2021. No definitive cause of death was found.

Not really. Despite hits to his reputation, Baffert is still highly sought out by deep-pocketed owners eager to have him train their high-priced horses. However, being shut out of the Derby has to sting since he has always been effusive about the first Saturday in May and considers it the pinnacle of the sport.

He won the Preakness last year with National Treasure, his 17th victory in a Triple Crown race. Earlier that day, one of his horses was injured in a race on the undercard and had to be euthanized. He had purse earnings of over $12.6 million for the year.

He won the $12 million Dubai World Cup with Country Grammer in 2022.

Some wags are calling it Kentucky Derby 149 1/2 in a nod to the absence of Baffert's talented colts. As a result, some believe the stronger race will be the Preakness on May 18.

Baffert can enter horses in the Preakness and the Belmont at Saratoga on June 8. He nominated 18 horses to the Triple Crown series, so any of them are eligible for the last two legs.

Among his top prospects are Muth and Imagination, the Santa Anita Derby runner-up. Both have been training at Santa Anita in California ahead of their next starts.

AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing

FILE - Trainer Bob Baffert walks 2015 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem in the barns at Pimlico Race Course, in Baltimore, Sunday May 19, 2002. Baffert will miss the race for the third consecutive year. He served a two-year suspension by Churchill Downs Inc. after his 2021 winner Medina Spirit was disqualified for a failed drug test. But the track’s corporate ownership meted out an additional year of punishment. (AP Photo/Alex Dorgan-Ross, File)

FILE - Real Quiet trainer Bob Baffert strikes a quarterback pose with the Kentucky Derby trophy after Real Quiet with jockey Kent Desormeaux up won the 124th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., May 2, 1998. Baffert will miss the race for the third consecutive year. He served a two-year suspension by Churchill Downs Inc. after his 2021 winner Medina Spirit was disqualified for a failed drug test. But the track’s corporate ownership meted out an additional year of punishment. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke, File)

FILE - Trainer Bob Baffert watches a workout at Churchill Downs Tuesday, May 3, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. Baffert will miss the race for the third consecutive year. He served a two-year suspension by Churchill Downs Inc. after his 2021 winner Medina Spirit was disqualified for a failed drug test. But the track’s corporate ownership meted out an additional year of punishment. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

FILE - Todd Herl of the Churchill Downs sign shop carries the Medina Spirit sign after it was removed from the paddock at Churchill Downs Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022, in Louisville, Ky. Trainer Bob Baffert will miss the race for the third consecutive year. He served a two-year suspension by Churchill Downs Inc. after his 2021 winner Medina Spirit was disqualified for a failed drug test. But the track’s corporate ownership meted out an additional year of punishment. Michael Clevenger/Courier Journal via AP, File)

FILE - Trainer Bob Baffert stands outside his barn at Churchill Downs Monday, May 2, 2016, in Louisville, Ky. Baffert will miss the race for the third consecutive year. He served a two-year suspension by Churchill Downs Inc. after his 2021 winner Medina Spirit was disqualified for a failed drug test. But the track’s corporate ownership meted out an additional year of punishment. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, FIle)

FILE - In this May 17, 2015, file photo, trainer Bob Baffert rubs the head of 2015 Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah outside the stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, May 17, 2015. Baffert will miss the race for the third consecutive year. He served a two-year suspension by Churchill Downs Inc. after his 2021 winner Medina Spirit was disqualified for a failed drug test. But the track’s corporate ownership meted out an additional year of punishment. (AP Photo/Garry Jones, File)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson and rookie Linus Lundqvist were involved in separate crashes during a busy day of practice Thursday, leaving their teams with a lot of extra work ahead of qualifying this weekend.

Ericsson, who was passed by Josef Newgarden on the last lap a year ago trying to defend his 2022 title, touched the curb at the bottom of the track going through Turns 3 and 4. That shot him into the outside wall, where his car sustained heavy damage on the left-hand side, before the No. 28 from Andretti Global skidded to a rest at the entrance to pit lane.

The 33-year-old from Sweden crashed with about 2 hours left in what had been the first dry practice all week; rain soon began to fall for the third consecutive day, keeping drivers off the track until the last 30 minutes of the session.

“I think we were in good shape,” Ericsson said, “but obviously you have a big crash like this, it sets everything back to zero.”

Earlier in the day, Lundqvist made a similar mistake going through Turns 1 and 2, shooting into the outside wall in the first wreck of Indy 500 preparations. The No. 8 entry from Chip Ganassi Racing sustained heavy damage to the right rear before skidding across the track and through the grass, where it finally came to a stop.

“It's my mistake. I know exactly what I did,” said Lundqvist, who had posted the fastest four-lap average of the practice at 224.994 mph. “I touched the curb in 2 and I couldn't hold onto it. It's something that you talk about often around this place, but it's just a mistake on my part and obviously the team pays the price for it.”

While Ericsson appeared to be headed for a backup car, Lundqvist's crew was trying to put his damaged car back together.

“It goes so fast, especially when you’re down there and you realize where you’re at. It’s kind of too late,” Lundqvist said. “It’s a small mistake. Easy to happen. But obviously, big consequences.”

Ganassi is chasing a sixth Indy 500 win with five cars attempting to qualify. That includes three rookies — Lundqvist, Marcus Armstrong and Kyffin Simpson — along with 2008 winner Scott Dixon and two-time series champion Alex Palou.

Rain washed out Tuesday and most of Wednesday, and more was in the forecast for Friday, leaving the 34 drivers trying to make the 33-car field for the 108th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” squeezing in as many laps as possible.

Pato O'Ward put Chevrolet-powered Arrow McLaren atop the charts, turning a lap of 228.861 mph. Scott McLaughlin was again fast for Team Penske, while Palou was third and the fastest among the Honda-powered cars.

Santino Ferrucci, who has never finished outside the top 10 in five Indy 500 starts, and A.J. Foyt Racing were among those left scrambling at the end of another shortened practice. Ferrucci said his car was loose to the point that it was dangerous, and even after a series of changes, the team's engineers were still trying to diagnose the problem.

“We can't afford to really put one in the wall,” Ferrucci said. “We're trying to figure out what it is. We've made a bunch of changes to make it safer (and) we made it looser. We've got a huge hill ahead of us right now.”

NASCAR star Kyle Larson, trying to become the fifth driver in history to attempt the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, spent much of Thursday’s practice session out of the race car as his Arrow McLaren team tinkered with setups.

Larson finally made some laps in qualifying trim with a couple of hours left in practice.

“We’re going to go get dinner tonight and just kind of relax,” Larson said. “It’s honestly been really relaxing here. There’s not really any logistics craziness that happens until this weekend, and then next weekend. It’s all been fine.”

AP Sports Writer Dave Skretta contributed to this report.

AP Motorsports: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Romain Grosjean, of Switzerland, pulls off his balaclava during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Pato O'Ward, of Mexico, prepares to drive during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Scott McLaughlin, of New Zealand, stand in his pit box during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Ed Carpenter climbs into his car during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Pato O'Ward, of Mexico, leaves the pits during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Marcus Ericsson, of Sweden, wrecks during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Larry Drake)

Kyle Larson climbs out of his car during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Linus Lundqvist, of Sweden, climbs into his car during practice for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Linus Lundqvist, of Sweden, wrecks during a practice session for the Indianapolis 500 auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Jamie Gallagher)