Bolshoi Ballet wins Derrinstown Derby Trial to become Epsom favourite
Bolshoi Ballet gives Aidan O'Brien his 14th winner in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial and becomes favourite for the Epsom Derby.
Month: May 2021
Churchill Downs Immediately Suspends Baffert From Entering Horses
In the wake of the revelation from trainer Bob Baffert on Sunday morning that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit has tested positive for betamethasone, a corticosteroid, Churchill Downs has immediately suspended the trainer from entering horses at the Louisville, Ky., track.
This is the second consecutive year that a Baffert runner has been involved in a post-race drug test controversy. In 2020, eventual female sprint champion Gamine was disqualified from a third-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks after testing positive for the same drug detected in post-race testing of Medina Spirit.
Churchill Downs officials issued the following statement on Sunday:
“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 Kentucky Horse Racing Commissions' investigation before taking further steps.”
Baffert said on Sunday that Medina Spirit and a second horse, Rebel Stakes winner Concert Tour, will be entered in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, second leg of the Triple Crown, at Pimlico race course in Baltimore, Md.
Craig Fravel, CEO of Racing Operations for The Stronach Group, said company officials would not have an immediate statement while they gather information on the situation.
Baffert currently has no horses entered to race at Churchill Downs. He won with two starters on Saturday.
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Churchill Downs Announces Ban on Baffert Entrants
Following the news Sunday morning that last week's GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) had tested positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone, Churchill Downs issued a statement, notably saying that it would not allow trainer Bob Baffert to enter runners at its track pending a full Kentucky Horse Racing Commission investigation.
The statement read:
“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 Kentucky Horse Racing Commissions' investigation before taking further steps.”
The Baffert barn has made nine starts at the current Churchill meet, with five wins, including with Gamine (Into Mischief) in the GI Derby City Distaff and Du Jour in the GII American Turf S. on Derby day; and this past Saturday with allowance winners Crystal Ball (Malibu Moon) and Himiko (American Pharoah).
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First Winner For El Kabeir as Son Don Chicco Graduates in Rome
1ST-CAPANNELLE, €13,200, Mdn., 5-9, 2yo, 1200m (AWT), 1:13.50.
DON CHICCO (GB) (128, c, 2, El Kabeir-Otrooha (Ire), by Oasis Dream {GB}), a distant second locally going 1000 metres over soft ground when unveiled on May 1, was tabbed the even-money pick in this quick return. Trying the all-weather surface for the first time, the bay battled with a rival for the advantage from the bell and sat a neck second on the far turn. He re-bid for the lead in upper stretch and forged clear to win by three lengths over Il Grande Gatsby (Ire) (Churchill). The winner is the first for his Yeomanstown Stud-based first-season sire. The son of Scat Daddy scored at the graded level at both two and three, taking the 2014 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. as a juvenile, and adding the GIII Gotham S. and GIII Jerome S. as a sophomore. He also ran third in the 2015 GI Wood Memorial S. Don Chicco's dam was unraced, but he is the second winner from three to race for her. Otrooha's latest produce is a Massaat (Ire) yearling filly. Second dam Mumayeza (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) is a half-sister to G2 Hardwicke S. hero Maraahel (Ire) (Alzao). Sales history: 10,000gns RNA Wlg '19 TATNOV; £8,500 Ylg '20 GOFSEP. Lifetime Record: 2-1-1-0, €7,960. Click for the Italian video.
O-Luigi Colasanti. B-Mickley, Harc Syndicate & K. Whitehouse (GB). T-Affe' Agostino.
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