Published by
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
By Pat Forde One of the most successful—and now controversial—trainers received a stark message: No one is bigger than Churchill Downs. But his presence still looms. Barn 33 was ghostly quiet nine days before the 148th Kentucky Derby, nothing but naked lightbulbs and empty stalls. There were two pairs of shoes leaning against the wall in the shedrow, but no humans or horses were present. The blank beige wall by the entrance to what has been the mecca of the Churchill Downs stable area for a quarter century screamed a silent message: Bob Baffert is not here. Not welcome here. All but scrubbed f…