LOUISVILLE, Ky. — He's back, and what a return it was.
"It's been good ever since I was able to come back here," Bob Baffert said. "Everybody's happy, and it's good for the sport."
Hall of Fame horse trainer Baffert returned to Churchill Downs to win his first race back after three years. Baffert's 2-year-old maiden horse, Barnes, took the victory in a photo finish.
"To win it was like the cherry on top," Baffert said in the Winner's Circle.
Baffert was suspended from racing at Churchill Downs after a failed drug test for Medina Spirit in 2021.
Medina Spirit originally won the Kentucky Derby that year but was later disqualified.
"In Kentucky, horse racing is huge right now," Baffert said. "The purses, the best horses are here in Kentucky, and I knew if I'm going to come here, I better bring a really serious 2-year-old."
After keeping Baffert out of Derby 150, Churchill Downs looked at Baffert differently after he took responsibility for his actions.
The legendary trainer said the weight of the pressure was "thousands of pounds" on his jockey, Martin Garcia, to come out with the win.
"To be back here, it's just enjoyable; I have great memories here at Churchill Downs, it's a historic racetrack and it just, it's a great day," he said. "I thought eventually I'd get back here, but it's something that's behind me now, water under the bridge. As a trainer, you have to focus on what's in front of you."
This is a real turning point in a multi-year saga between Baffert and Churchill Downs with that suspension. Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) CEO Bill Carstanjen shook hands on Wednesday with the six-time Derby winner that he once battled in court.
Despite it being the horse's first race, Barnes was the clear favorite.
"I know Bob Baffert is a great horse trainer and he knows a lot about the industry, so I knew I couldn't not bet on him," said fan Hayden Spaulding.
"Bob Baffert, obviously, is one of the greatest to ever do it in the sport," said fan Jackson Ferraro. "He is well-known. He has had a long, tenured history with Churchill Downs."
Fans were cheering on the two-time Triple Crown winner who was at the helm of the debate for what's a fair race and a fair consequence.
"It looks like now he's trying to come back in and he's going to make a run at another win," Ferraro said. "He wants that Triple Crown again and I think he's coming for it."
Now, Baffert is just looking forward to his future at the track. Barnes could be a contender for Baffert in next year's Kentucky Derby.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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