Bob Baffert told the media Sunday morning at Churchill Downs that his stable was informed by the Kentucky Racing Commission that GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) has tested positive for the medication betamethasone. Betamethasone is a corticosteroid.
During a 10-minute news conference (click for video), Baffert repeatedly proclaimed his innocence.
“All I can tell you is that betamethasone is an allowed therapeutic medication, but we did not give it to this horse,” Baffert said. “In fact, Medina Spirit has never been treated with Betamethasone. I cannot believe that I am here before you guys. Yesterday, I got the biggest gut punch in racing for something I did not do.”
Baffert said Medina Spirit was found to have 21 picograms of the drug in his system.
Baffert said that Kentucky racing officials contacted his assistant, Jimmy Barnes, on Saturday to give him the news, which he then relayed to Baffert.
For the sport's most prominent trainer, Sunday's news was the latest in a series of drug positives related to the Baffert stable. In each case, the Hall of Fame trainer has denied any wrongdoing.
This story will be updated.
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