failed drug tests<\/a> for lidocaine after their races at Oaklawn Park in May. The two horses were Charlatan, who won a division of the Grade I Arkansas Derby, and Gamine, a promising filly who won an allowance race that same day.<\/p>\nBaffert, whose attorney said in a statement that he\u2019d appeal the suspension, which is scheduled to start Aug. 1, said trace amounts of the topical painkiller likely came from a patch worn by an employee.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe rulings were announced after a second round of testing on both horses also came back positive. Those test results led to the disqualification of both horses from their races. Charlatan, who was considered a top Kentucky Derby candidate, was later withdrawn from consideration for that race as he recovers from a minor ankle injury.<\/p>\n
Charlatan is the second major contender that Baffert had to scratch from consideration for the Derby. Nadal was retired after suffering a fracture.<\/p>\n
Gamine remains a top contender for the Kentucky Oaks. Last month, she romped to an 18-3\/4-length victory in the Grade I Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park.<\/p>\n
Derby Futures Betting This Weekend<\/h2>\n
Churchill Downs has opened another round of Kentucky Derby futures betting this weekend. Authentic started as the fourth choice in the pool when wagering began Friday afternoon.<\/p>\n
\n
Oddsmakers started Authentic at 10-1. As of Saturday morning, his odds were 8-1 in the pari-mutuel pool, behind only Art Collector (7-1), Honor A.P. (7-1), and favorite Tiz the Law (5-2).<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\nBetting will continue through 6 p.m. ET Sunday.<\/p>\n
This weekend also marks the second round of futures betting on the Kentucky Oaks, and Gamine is the strong 8-5 favorite in that pool.<\/p>\n
The Oaks will be raced on Sept. 4.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Authentic looks to regain his winning ways on Saturday, as the Road to the Kentucky ventures into New Jersey for the running of the Grade I Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. The Bob Baffert-trained colt is coming off a second-place finish in the June 6 Santa Anita Derby, the first time he didn\u2019t cross the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":142140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14577,16],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Kentucky Derby Contender Authentic Favored to Win Saturday's Haskell<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n