Horse that won Kentucky Derby fails drug test

by Jonathen beck May 9, 2021, 5:38 pm 170k Views 132 Comments

Medina Spirit, the Bob Baffert-trained horse that won the 2021 Kentucky Derby, has tested certain for a regulated drug, betamethasone, and his Derby win could operate jeopardy.

Baffert revealed the determined test at an impromptu news conference at Churchill Downs very just about Sunday day, calling it “the biggest gut punch in racing.”

Betamethasone is a Class C adjacent to-inflammatory, and even if it’s not banned, it’s regulated: a horse must be off the drug within 14 days of racing. Medina Spirit tested for by now more twice the allowed amount.

Not at Churchill Downs but watching the @paulickreport livestream. Bob Baffert said assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes has been told by the Racing Commission that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit has tested positive betamethasone, and said he has never been treated with that drug.

— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) May 9, 2021

Baffert for eternity claimed during the news conference that no one upon his team gave Medina Spirit the drug. He said that he’ll be achievement the test and will be sending Medina Spirit to the Preakness, which is sentient thing run in less than a week.

However, Baffert heavily implied that he believes his physical set occurring or targeted by who or what he wouldn’t publication. Medina Spirit is the on your own horse that ran the Derby to test determined, which he implied was suspicious. Baffert with said that he “doesn’t character safe to train” knowing on the subject of this could happen.

In an avowal, Churchill Downs traditional the sure test and confirmed that Baffert intends to demand a test of a split sample, which is when the horse’s blood sample is sent to an independent lab and tested more extensively. The announcement in addition to laying out the consequences should Medina Spirit’s exam results be stated: the win will be invalidated and second-place finisher Mandaloun will be stated the winner.

Additionally, Churchill Downs has suspended Baffert from entering any horses at the track. If the split sample results come assign help to do, Churchill Downs will be “taking association steps.”

This is the same drug that Gamine tested positive for after the Kentucky Oaks.

— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) May 9, 2021

This is the second time in seven months that a Baffert horse has tested certain for betamethasone. Gamine tested certain for the similar substance in Oct. 2020. Baffert offered a report for that and didn’t deny that Gamine had been administered the drug.

Baffert plus mentioned Justify, the horse he trained that won the Triple Crown in 2018. Justify tested certain for a regulated substance previously he ran the Kentucky Derby, even though it wasn’t announced until distant. The sure exam was responsible upon mixed feed and dismissed, and it didn’t take steps Justify’s eligibility.

Baffert used that certain exam to anew cast himself as the victim of some larger conspiracy, saying “It just seems odd, why am I the on your own trainer as well as these positives?”

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