Bob Baffert and jockey Martin Garcia have a falling out just before the Kentucky Derby
Hall of Fame horse trainer Bob Baffert keeps an eye on his horses during early morning workouts at Santa Anita racetrack.
Jockey Martin Garcia will not be in Louisville during Kentucky Derby week to assist trainer Bob Baffert in the preparation of his best horses. Garcia was often used by Baffert to work and exercise his horses.
According to Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form, Baffert and Garcia had a falling out in recent days. Garcia was supposed to work Jimbo Fallon, who was accompanying Mor Spirit, when he ran over the track Tuesday.
Mor Spirit’s regular rider, Gary Stevens, as scheduled, was aboard the colt for Tuesday’s work. Mor Spirit is Baffert’s only Kentucky Derby entrant.
David Lopez rode Jimbo Fallon in the work.
“I think he needs a break for a while,” Baffert told the Daily Racing Form. “Sometimes I’m hard on him. I’m his biggest critic. I’m not mad at him. I just wish he had told me what was going on.”
Baffert said that Garcia told him that he had something to do last weekend. They have not been in touch since.
It’s expected that Lopez will replace Garcia on several mounts leading up to next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby. Lopez will ride Toews On Ice, who at one time was on the Derby trail but seemed to not have enough distance, in the opening-night feature at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
