HORSE RACING Baffert sells Domestic Dispute

David Bienstock and Chuck Winner purchased the 3-year-old colt.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Domestic Dispute walked out of trainer Bob Baffert's barn, galloped 11/2 miles and headed into a stall belonging to new trainer Paddy Gallagher.
Some kind of Kentucky Derby dispute?
No, just a change in ownership.
Baffert sold Domestic Dispute on behalf of owner Gary Garber to Californians David Bienstock and Chuck Winner on Saturday, although the 3-year-old colt didn't change hands until after Sunday's workout.
Baffert hadn't planned to run Domestic Dispute in the 129th Derby, but the new owners immediately put him in the 11/4-mile race.
"We didn't have a 'For Sale' sign on him or anything. They just approached us," Baffert said. "They're very nice people. It's people like that the game needs, that want to put their money up and take a shot. The horse has earned his way in there."
Sound familiar?
Last year
A year ago, the late Saudi Prince Ahmed bin Salman bought Illinois Derby winner War Emblem three weeks before the Derby and sent him to Baffert. The colt won at odds of 20-1.
"That's why I went after War Emblem when they said they weren't going to run him in the Derby," Baffert said. "Basically, it was the same thing."
Baffert will run Indian Express and Kafwain in the Derby. Senor Swinger, who arrived in his barn in March after being bought by Bob and Beverly Lewis, is more likely to run in a grass race Friday at Churchill.
Domestic Dispute finished third in his most recent start April 19 in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, leaving Baffert convinced that he would skip the Derby and run the colt in the Preakness on May 17.
The colt was fifth in the Santa Anita Derby on April 5. He also was fifth in the San Felipe Stakes, behind top three finishers Buddy Gil, Atswhatimtalknbout and Brancusi, who are Derby contenders. The colt won the Santa Catalina Stakes in his first start of the year in January.
Gallagher's debut
Domestic Dispute will be the first Derby starter for Gallagher, a 46-year-old from County Tyrone, Ireland.
But he knows Churchill Downs, having been Bill Shoemaker's assistant in 1993, when the Hall of Fame rider-turned-trainer saddled Diazo and Corby to fifth- and sixth-place finishes, respectively.
Many of the other trainers are putting their horses through carefully planned workouts in the final days before the Derby. Gallagher won't be as busy.
"There's not much I can do with him this week," he said. "He just ran, so I'll just gallop him and keep an eye on him."
Besides owning Domestic Dispute, Garber also bred the colt.
"I told him, 'Hey, if he wins it, you get a Derby trophy for being the breeder, and I get to take all the heat from the press,' " Baffert said. "I hope they do well with the horse."