Baffert banned for 60 days Leading American trainer Bob Baffert has been handed a 60-day suspension from racing after one of his horses tested positive test for morphine last year.The punishment, which takes effect from June 25th to August 23rd, was handed down to him by three California Horse Racing Board stewards on Sunday.An eight-day hearing at Santa Anita Park was held in April as a result of Nautical Look, trained by Baffert, testing positive for morphine, after she finished first at Hollywood Park in May last year.Baffert has been the leading trainer in America for the last three years and already holds a commanding advantage in this year`s standings.Last month Baffert described the hearing as 'a joke' with his lawyer, Neil Papiano, calling for the case to be dropped.Baffert`s biggest successes this season have come with Captain Steve, who took the Dubai World Cup at Nad Al Sheba in March, and Point Given who thrashed his rivals in the Belmont Stakes nine days ago, scoring by 12} lengths to book his place in the Breeders` Cup Classic back at the New York track.Fortunately the mouthwatering clash between Point Given and Vodafone Derby hero Galileo remains on course with the Breeders` Cup meeting on October 27th falling well outside the confines of his ban.Baffert is yet to comment on the decision but he may launch an appeal within 72 hours of the decision.
