A judge of the Kentucky Court of Appeals denied an emergency motion to allow Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Muth into the Kentucky Derby (G1) in an order described on the court's online docket after regular office hours April 24.
The order upheld a ruling made April 18 in Jefferson Circuit Court in Louisville, Ky., denying a motion for temporary injunction sought by Zedan Racing against Churchill Downs Inc. Zedan filed a motion for emergency relief with the Court of Appeals the following day.
The content of the Court of Appeals order was not available at the time this story was published. The court's website only published a notice the order denying Zedan's emergency motion was entered. This story may be updated April 25.
The state's rules of civil procedure provide a motion for reconsideration of today's order is not allowed. The only avenue of relief for Zedan is another emergency motion in the Kentucky Supreme Court, though Zedan suggested in a April 25 statement from his public relations firm that the focus now for Muth would be the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel of the Triple Crown, at Pimlico Race Course. Baffert is eligible to compete at all tracks across the country except those owned by CDI.
Zedan said in remarks distributed by his public relations firm: "I had the pleasure of speaking with Alex Rankin, the chairman of Churchill Downs (Inc.), and I congratulated him on the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby and wish him and racing fans around the world a competitive, captivating, and safe race. I look forward to bringing Muth to the Preakness."
