One week after the running of the Kentucky Derby, Bob Baffert, the trainer of winner Medina Spirit told reporters that the son of Protonico had tested positive for betamethasone, an illegal corticosteroid, after the race. The colt's urine sample will be split and sent to several different labs for re-testing, to be certain there was no contamination. If the other samples also contain higher than accepted levels of betamethasone, Medina Spirit will be disqualified as the winner of the Kentucky, and Mendaloun will be declare the winner, with all other finishers moved up one spot, and Medina Spirit placed last.
In the meantime, trainer Baffert has been suspended by Churchill Downs from entering any horses at the Louisville track, pending the conclusion of an investigation by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC). Baffert had traveled from California to watch Medina Spirit and Concert Tour train for the May 15th Preakness Stakes. He broke the news of the positive test at a press conference Sunday morning while accompanied by his attorney, W. Craig Robertson III.
On Friday, Baffert said, his assistant trainer, Jimmy Barnes, was served notice by the KHRC that Medina Spirit had tested as having 21 picograms of betamethasone per milliliter of blood or plasma. Baffert stated that Medina Spirit was not administered the medication in question.
"All I can tell you is that betamethasone - even though it is an allowed drug, a therapeutic medication, we did not give it. ... In fact, Medina Spirit has never been treated with betamethasone," Baffert said Sunday. "We're going to do our own investigation, we're going to be transparent with the racing commission like we've always been. We're going to show them everything. ... In California, everything is documented every day, what the horses get. This horse was never treated with that.
"I know I'm the most scrutinized trainer and I have millions of eyes on me, but you know what? I don't have a problem with that," Baffert added. "The last thing I want to do is do something that would jeopardize the greatest two minutes in sports."
Betamethasone is a Class C drug that is allowed in Kentucky as a therapeutic. However, state rules require at least a 14-day withdrawal time and any level of detection on race day is a violation. The threshold was changed from 0 to 10 picograms per milliliter of blood or plasma in August 2020.
The KHRC confirmed the news early Sunday afternoon with the following statement: "Kentucky Horse Racing Commission officials are investigating the medication test finding related to horse 'Medina Spirit' and trainer Bob Baffert. The test was conducted Derby Day, May 1. Test results were obtained May 7.
"During the investigation, both the trainer and owner of the horse will be afforded due process, and opportunity to appeal. Therefore, the KHRC will not provide further comment at this time."
In a statement issued late Sunday morning, Churchill Downs said, "It is our understanding that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit's post-race blood sample indicated a violation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky's equine medication protocols. The connections of Medina Spirit have the right to request a test of a split sample and we understand they intend to do so. To be clear, if the findings are upheld, Medina Spirit's results in the Kentucky Derby will be invalidated and Mandaloun will be declared the winner.
"Failure to comply with the rules and medication protocols jeopardizes the safety of the horses and jockeys, the integrity of our sport, and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby and all who participate. Churchill Downs will not tolerate it. Given the seriousness of the alleged offense, Churchill Downs will immediately suspend Bob Baffert, the trainer of Medina Spirit, from entering any horses at Churchill Downs Racetrack. We will await the conclusion of the KHRC's investigation before taking further steps."
Churchill Downs clarified Sunday afternoon that horses trained by Baffert would not be allowed to run under an assistant trainer's name, a practice often employed by trainers while serving suspensions or undergoing the appeals process.
A split sample test will be requested by Baffert, who said he also independently arranged for DNA testing and hair follicle testing of Medina Spirit to confirm the positive test was not from a different horse and to determine whether betamethasone was indeed in Medina Spirit's system. Split sample results generally take three to four weeks to be delivered.
Baffert said he would also request a review of the out of competition test sample collected from Medina Spirit on April 18. "We had to jump through a lot of hoops to get to the Derby," Baffert said. "They do out of competition (testing), he had that done on the 18th. That sample, we're going to have them look at it again. There's just a lot of things we're going to be doing."
The KHRC did not provide any detail beyond its released statement.
"I'm going to fight it tooth and nail because it owe it to the horse, I owe it to the owner, and I owe it to our industry. Yesterday I got the biggest gut punch in racing for something that I didn't do. It's disturbing. It's an injustice to the horse. ... I don't know what's going on in racing right now, but there's something not right. I don't feel embarrassed, I feel like I was wronged.
"He's (Medina Spirit) a great horse. He doesn't deserve this. He ran a gallant race."
If the win of Medina Spirit is not overturned by the KHRC, it will be Baffert's record-breaking seventh win of the Run for the Roses.
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