Trainer Bob Baffert sues social media users for defamation and extortion
Thoroughbred trainer Bob Baffert has filed a civil a lawsuit against Justin Wunderler and Daniel DiCorcia, described as part-time pari-mutuel racing bettors and frequent social media users, for defamation and extortion, according to California District Court records.
The lawsuit filed Sept. 27 alleges Wunderler accused Baffert through the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, of engaging in animal cruelty and "blood doping," and that the men claimed to have videos that could end Baffert's career as a thoroughbred trainer "if exposed to the media, regulatory agencies, and racetrack operators."
The lawsuit claims the men asked Baffert for money in exchange for the videos.
The complaint filed by attorneys for Baffert represents only the trainer's side of the civil dispute. Wunderler and DiCorcia have not formally responded to the allegations, according to online court records, which do not name any attorneys representing the men.
The allegations made by Wunderler and DiCorcia are false and defamatory, the lawsuit says.
Baffert's complaint contends the videos are false and states the longtime trainer does not engage in "blood doping" or animal cruelty. It requests an order requiring the men to submit the video for a review by the court and Baffert.
"Based upon information and belief, the alleged videos are deceptively edited to cast Baffert and his staff in a false light with the specific intent of manufacturing a scandal, whereas the full context and character of the video would affirmatively refute such characterization," the lawsuit states.
Wunderler said through X on Thursday that the videos are not edited and that he didn't ask "for large sums of money ever." The post stated that the money asked for was to see the videos, but the plan was always to post them.
I like Bill Finley but man (facts and truth matters. Goes long week especially after lessons learned)
1)I never asked for large sums of money ever. They might pull up old tweet of mine saying million dollars or whatever get off internet. What was said in text was 1k to see…— Swift (@SwiftHitter) September 29, 2023
Medina Spirit, the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner trained by Baffert, was disqualified from his victory after a blood sample contained 21 picograms of betamethasone, a Class C drug that’s prohibited in any amount, was present in a post-race test. Baffert was suspended for 90 days, which he served from April-June of 2022.
According to court documents, Wunderler has publicly alleged that Baffert "blood doped" Medina Spirt and implied that caused the horse's death. Medina Spirt collapsed and died after a workout in December 2021 and the lawsuit says an official investigation revealed no evidence to support that assertion.
Baffert is asking for $75,000.00 "for the mental anguish, anxiety, and duress Defendants have caused by virtue of their repeated threats to Baffert’s business and family by means of their unlawful statements," according to the lawsuit.
Baffert is a resident from California and has licenses to train and race thoroughbred horses in states including California, Kentucky and Arkansas. Wunderler, who is on social media under the name "SwiftHitter" and DiCorcia, who uses several social media names including “barshoelife," are both residents of New Jersey.
Jason Frakes contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Trainer Bob Baffert sues social media users for defamation, extortion
