Board Told to Reimburse Baffert

A federal judge has awarded trainer Bob Baffert $102,780 in compensation for expenses incurred during his long-running battle with the California Horse Racing Board, Baffert’s lawyer Neil Papiano said Tuesday.

Baffert, the trainer of Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner War Emblem, has a much more lucrative payday pending--a Triple Crown sweep by the colt in the Belmont Stakes on June 8 would net $5.6 million in purse and bonus money--but Tuesday’s ruling represented yet another victory for the trainer against the racing board.

In April, a Los Angeles judge dismissed the board’s case against Baffert, which stemmed from one of his horses testing positive for morphine at Hollywood Park in May 2000.

According to a CHRB spokesman, the board is appealing the April ruling and the more recent judgment, which says that the board must reimburse Baffert for his legal and administrative expenses.

Baffert’s horse, Nautical Look, won an allowance race at Hollywood Park, then tested positive for the illegal drug. A second test of the horse’s urine confirmed the positive, but when Baffert asked that blood taken from the horse be tested, he was told that the racing board’s official laboratory had thrown away the sample.

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At Hollywood Park, trainer Beau Greely said that Like A Hero, winner of the Alydar Stakes there on May 23, will run in the Belmont Stakes. Like A Hero will likely be the most lightly raced horse in this year’s field. He will be ridden by Laffit Pincay, who won the Belmont three consecutive years in the early 1980s.

Bill Christine

Pro Football

Lawrence Phillips, a former Nebraska and Baldwin Park High standout, is getting another chance to resume his troubled football career--with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

But he still needs clearance to enter Canada because he has a criminal record in the United States.

Alouette General Manager Jim Popp said he has reached agreement with the 27-year-old running back. But Popp said the deal won’t be signed until Phillips receives permission from Canadian immigration.

Kendyl Jacox, a free agent who started 16 games at center for San Diego last season, has signed a five-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.

Jurisprudence

Four former Notre Dame football players surrendered to authorities in South Bend, Ind., to face charges in the gang-rape of a female student.

Donald Dykes, Justin Smith, Lorenzo Crawford and Abram Elam were released on $3,000 bond each after their bonds were reduced.

Michigan booster Ed Martin, accused of illegally lending $600,000 to Chris Webber and three other Wolverine basketball players, pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge.

Miscellany

University of Arizona softball Coach Mike Candrea was selected to lead the U.S. national team for the next four years, including the 2004 Olympics in Athens.... Mark Martin’s crew chief, Ben Leslie, was fined $50,000 by NASCAR on because Martin’s winning car in the Coca-Cola 600 did not pass postrace inspection. Martin’s victory and points are not affected.... Billy Tubbs became athletic director at Lamar University, his alma mater....

Svetlana Abrosimova scored 14 of her 21 points in the second half as the Minnesota Lynx held off the Miami Sol, 66-63, in a WNBA game at Miami.... The Galaxy will play host to Aguila, a 13-time league champion in El Salvador, in an exhibition game tonight at 7:30 at the Rose Bowl.