Is Otomax, an Anti-Fungal Ointment, Recommended By a Veterinarian, the Root of Medina Spirit's Positive Drug Test?

Medina Spirit will be running in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, according to his owner.

   In the meantime, his trainer, Bob Baffert, ensnared in the legal mess of having the winning horse of the Kentucky Derby test positive for an illegal drug, is seeking answers to his dilemma.  He thinks he might know the cause of the betamethasone positive test, but will continue with his efforts to find the truth.

   It is recorded  and documented that after the Santa Anita Derby, Medina Spirit developed a fungal dermatitis on his hindquarters - the hair fell out in patches and the skin became very thin, with some ruptures and fluid leakage.  It was itchy and painful, and it could easily spread.  His veterinarian suggested treating the colt with Otomax, an anti-fungal ointment, to kill the fungus, help the sores heal, prevent the spreading of the lesions, and to give the colt relief from the itching and the pain.  The veterinarian told Baffert to apply the ointment once a day to promote the healing and stop the spread of the dermatitis.

   The veterinarian did not tell the trainer that the ointment contained betamethasone.  He discovered that fact on Monday, May 10.

Photo of Medina Spirit's dermatitis

   Bob Baffert released the following statement through his lawyer, Craig Robertson, this morning (11 May):

   "On May 9, 2021, I held a press conference in which I stated that I intended to thoroughly investigate how this could have happened and that I would be completely transparent throughout the process.  I immediately began that investigation, which has resulted in me learning of a possible source for the betamethasone, and now, as promised, I want to be forthright abut what I learned.

   "Following the Santa Anita Derby, Medina Spirit developed dermatitis on his hind end.  I had him checked out by my veterinarian who recommended the use of an anti-fungal ointment called Otomax.  The veterinary recommendation was to apply this ointment daily to give the horse relief, help heal the dermatitis, and prevent it from spreading.  My barn followed this recommendation and Medina Spirit was treated with Otomax once a day up until the day before the Kentucky Derby.  Yesterday, I was informed that one of the substances in Otomax is betamethasone.  While we do not know definitively that this was the source of the alleged 21 picograms found in Medina Spirit's post-race blood sample, and our investigation is continuing, I have been told by equine pharmacology experts that this could explain the test results.  As such, I wanted to be forthright about this fact as soon as I learned of this information."

   He went on to state that they will continue to investigate and have all of the testing done that he talked about on Sunday in his press conference.

  **** I have only one question - why did the vet not tell Baffert, or his assistant, or whomever he spoke with, that the ointment contained a Class C substance, and that if the horse was treated with Otomax, then the treatment should cease at least 14 days prior to a race, for the horse to have the drug out of its system? ****