2021 preakness | Horse Racing Free Tips

Preakness Saturday Statement From Baffert: I Am ‘Truly Sorry’ For Handling Of Medina Spirit Scandal

The following statement was provided exclusively to NBC Sports by Bob Baffert. Baffert was asked to appear on Saturday's Preakness telecast, but declined on the advice of his legal team.

As Medina Spirit prepares to run in the Preakness Stakes today, I want to keep the focus on this amazing equine athlete and not me, which is the primary reason I will not personally be in attendance. I do not want to serve as a distraction to what has always been of paramount importance – the joy of this great sport and the horses that make it possible.

As I have stated from the beginning, there was never any attempt to game or cheat the system and Medina Spirit earned his Kentucky Derby win. While the presence of 21 picograms of an allowable therapeutic medication has yet to be confirmed by the split sample analysis, it would have nothing to do with Medina Spirit's hard earned and deserved win. That win was the result of the horse's tremendous heart and nothing else.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, I acknowledge that I am not perfect and I could have better handled the initial announcement of this news. Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby win was so personally meaningful to me, and I had such a wonderful experience on May 1 at Churchill Downs, that when I got the news of the test results, it truly was the biggest gut punch I had ever received and I was devastated. That, coupled with the fact that I always try to be accommodating and transparent with the media, led to an emotional press conference on May 9 in which I said some things that have been perceived as hurtful to some in the industry. For that I am truly sorry. I have devoted my life's work to this great sport and I owe it, and those who make it possible, nothing but an eternal debt of gratitude.

For those who want an explanation for what transpired with Medina Spirit, I have tried to be open and transparent from the beginning. Our investigation is continuing and I don't have definitive answers at this point. What I do know is that neither my barn, nor my veterinarians, directly treated Medina Spirit with the anti-inflammatory medication betamethasone. Even though it is allowable, it is just not something we have ever used with this horse. The only possible explanation that we have uncovered to date – and I emphasize the word possible – is that betamethasone is an ingredient in a topical ointment that was being applied to Medina Spirit to treat a dermatitis skin condition he developed after the Santa Anita Derby.

I have been deeply saddened to see this case portrayed as a “doping” scandal or betamethasone labeled as a “banned” substance. Neither is remotely true. Betamethasone is an allowable and commonly used medication in horse racing. Further, 21 picograms would have zero pharmacology in a horse. All I ask is that everyone not rush to judgment and allow all of the facts, evidence and science to come to light.

Lastly, while this has been extremely hard and emotionally draining on me and my family, today is not about Bob Baffert. Instead it is about Medina Spirit and all of the other equine athletes in our tremendous sport. I hope that everyone will direct their attention to them and give them the love and respect they so richly deserve.

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Pimlico: Last Two Tests On Medina Spirit Clear, Colt Is Cleared To Run

After undergoing three rounds of out-of-competition blood sample testing as part of the condition of entry agreement into Preakness 146 between the Maryland Jockey Club (MJC) and trainer Bob Baffert, Medina Spirit, Concert Tour and Beautiful Gift have been reported clear and are eligible to race this weekend at Pimlico Race Course.

Two samples were drawn on May 6 and May 10 by the Maryland Racing Commission and were screened by Industrial Laboratories in Colorado. A third sample was drawn on May 11 by 1/ST RACING and MJC and screened by the University of California at Davis Maddy Laboratory.

Beautiful Gift is entered into the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) and Medina Spirit and Concert Tour in the 146^th Preakness Stakes (G1).

Consistent with the fair procedures and practices established by 1/ST RACING and MJC, the additional tests and monitoring were conducted as part of the rigorous condition of entry agreement to ensure the fairness and integrity of the races with horses entered by Baffert.

All horses entered in both the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the 146^th Preakness Stakes will remain under veterinary observation and security surveillance.

To view a copy of the Maryland Jockey Club and Bob Baffert agreement, please click here.

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Weekend Lineup Presented By Pimlico: Preakness Headlines Busy Weekend In Maryland

The 146th Grade 1 $1 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore on Saturday, the second jewel of Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown, will be run at 1 3/16 miles. The Preakness is the centerpiece of nine graded stakes races to be run at Old Hilltop on Friday and Saturday.

NBC Sports will broadcast the Preakness live, with coverage beginning Saturday at 5 p.m. ET on NBC. Coverage from Pimlico begins today at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN with the 97th running of the Grade 2 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, and continues Saturday at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Over the two days, NBC Sports will cover nine races live.

Horse Racing Radio Network (HRRN) will broadcast live on Saturday from 5-7:30 p.m. ET from Pimlico via NBC Sports Audio channel on SiriusXM channel 211, along with terrestrial affiliates throughout the United States.

TVG will be broadcasting racing throughout the weekend from Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, and more. Fans can tune in on TVG, TVG2 and the Watch TVG app, which is available on Amazon Fire, Roku and connected Apple TV devices.

“America's Day at the Races” will be live on Saturday on FS2 from 2-2:30 p.m., and from 4:30-6:30 p.m. featuring the live programming at Belmont Park. On Sunday, May 16, “America's Day at the Races” will air on FS2 from 12:30-5:30 p.m. ET.

Friday, May 14

3:07 p.m. ―$150,00 Grade 3 Allaire DuPont Distaff Match Series Stakes at Pimlico on TVG

New Jersey-bred Horologist, trained by Bill Mott, leads eight fillies and mares entered in Friday's $150,000 G3 Allaire DuPont Distaff at Pimlico as the 3-1 morning line favorite. A 5-year-old daughter of Gemologist, Horologist, ridden by Junior Alvarado from post five, is seeking her fourth career graded stakes win, which includes last October's G2 Beldame Stakes. Horologist won her first start of the year, the listed 1 1/8-mile Top Flight at Aqueduct, by a length over Mrs. Danvers. The latter, owned by Joseph Allen and trained by Shug McGaughey, won last November's G3 Comely Stakes at Aqueduct. The Elkstone Group's Getridofrwhatailesu exits very tough G1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn, where she finished behind Letruska, Monomoy Girl and Shedaresthedevil.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM051421USA8-EQB.html

4:09 p.m. $150,000 Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on TVG

Alex and JoAnn Lieblong's Abrogate, trained by Steve Asmussen, and WSS Racing's Joyful Cadence, trained by John Ortiz, the 1-2 finishers in the listed Purple Mountain Stakes at Oaklawn on April 3, are among the favorites as nine 3-year-old fillies go to the post in the six furlong $150,000 Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. The local standout is Lucky 7 Stables' Maryland-bred Street Lute, who won five consecutive races at Laurel Park, but will be stepping into graded-stakes company for the first time for trainer John J. Robb.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM051421USA10-EQB.html

5:12 p.m. ―$250,000 Grade 3 Pimlico Special Match Series Stakes on NBCSN

WinStar Farm's and China Horse Club's Fearless is the 9-5 morning line favorite in the G3 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special against 10 rivals. Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden from post two by Irad Ortiz Jr., Fearless won the G2 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes on Feb. 27, and was second by a half-length last time out on April 10 in the G2 Oaklawn Handicap. The Bill-Mott-trained Modernist won the Grade 3 Excelsior at Aqueduct on April 10 by 2 ½ lengths. GMP Stables, Arnold Bennewith and Cypress Creek Equine's 5-year-old Maryland-bred Harpers First Ride won last year's Pimlico Special when it was held in October. Trained by Robert Diodoro and ridden from post seven by David Cohen, Harpers First Ride has won 10 races but is winless in his last three starts.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM051421USA12-EQB.html

5:44 p.m. ―$250,000 Grade 2 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes on NBCSN

Friday's featured G2 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan will be run for the 97th time with a field of ten 3-year-old fillies entered. Godolphin's Adventuring, trained by Brad Cox, has started just four times, but has won both her races this year. After breaking her maiden at the Fair Grounds in February, the bay daughter of Pioneerof the Nile captured the listed 1-mile Bourbonette at Turfway Park on March 27 by two lengths. Florent Geroux has the mount starting from post nine. Like Adventuring, Baoma Corporation's Beautiful Gift, trained by Bob Baffert, also will be making just her fifth start. After winning the G3 Santa Ysabel at Santa Anita Park on March 7, Beautiful Gift finished second by a half-length in the G2 Santa Anita Oaks.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM051421USA13-EQB.html

Saturday, May 15

11:44 a.m. ―$200,000 Grade 3 Chick Lang Stakes at Pimlico on TVG

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, a four-time winner of the G3 Chick Lang Stakes, sends out West Point Thoroughbreds and Melvin Delfiner's Jaxon Traveler in this year's 46th running of the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds. Maryland-bred Jaxson Traveler broke his maiden last September debuting at Pimlico. He has won four of five starts, with his most recent victory coming in the listed six-furlong Bachelor Stakes at Oaklawn on April 24. Asmussen also has entered Bill and Corrine Heiligbrodt's Mighty Mischief, a 4 ½ length optional-claiming winner last time out at Oaklawn. Lea Farms' Florida-bred Willy Boi, trained by Jeff Engler, won the listed Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream in March.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM051521USA3-EQB.html

1:26 p.m. – $150,000 Grade 3 Gallorette at Pimlico on TVG

Alex G. Campbell Jr.'s 5-year-old mare Mean Mary, 6-5 on the morning line, seeks her fourth graded-stakes win when she makes her 2021 debut in Pimlico's G3 Gallorette at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares on turf. Trained by Graham Motion, last year Mean Mary won the G3 Orchid and the G3 La Prevoyante, both at Gulfstream, and the G2 New York at Belmont, before losing a heartbreaker to Rushing Fall by a neck in Saratoga's G1 Diana. Mean Mary finished seventh in the G1 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf to close out the season. The Christophe Clement-trained Feeling Glorious (GB), a six-time winner, was second in the listed Sand Spring Stakes at Gulfstream on March 27. After six starts in France, Peter Brant's 4-year-old Fighting Lady (IRE) won her U.S. debut in an Aqueduct allowance race on April 3 for trainer Chad Brown.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM051521USA6-EQB.html

4:30 p.m. ― $100,000 Grade 3 Lazaro Barrera Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Juddmonte's Laurel River made a solid impression with a 4-length maiden special weight score on April 3 at Santa Anita, and has been installed as the 4-5 morning line favorite in Saturday's G3 Lazaro Barrera for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. Bob Baffert trains the bay son of Into Mischief, with Abel Cedillo named to ride. The main challenge should come from Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, John Sondereker and Richard Thornburgh's California-bred The Chosen Vron. Trained by Kruljac, The Chosen Vron was third behind Concert Tour and Freedom Fighter in his second start, the G2 San Vicente Stakes, before winning the listed 6 ½-furlong Echo Eddie eight races after Laurel River broke his maiden on the same April 3 program at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA051521USA3-EQB.html

4:41 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Match Series Stakes at Pimlico on NBCSN

Eleven 3-year-olds will tackle the wide open G3 six-furlong Maryland Sprint Stakes, with Hillside Equestrian Meadows' local 8-year-old gelding Laki getting the chance to show his stuff at Pimlico. Trained by Damon Dilodovico and ridden from post one by Horacio Karamanos, Maryland-bred Laki won his last two starts at Old Hilltop. On April 24, Laki won the listed six-furong Frank Y. Whiteley Stakes, and prior to that, took the G3 Frank J. De Francis last October. Courtland Farm's Strike Power, trained by Steve Asmussen, was one for three at Oaklawn this year, taking an optional claimer and then finishing fourth behind C.Z. Rocket and Whitmore in the G3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap on April 10.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM051521USA11-EQB.html

5:38 p.m. ―$250,000 Grade 2 Dinner Party Stakes at Pimlico on NBCSN

The Chad Brown-trained Sacred Life (FR) is the 7-5 morning line favorite in an eight-horse field for the 120th running of Pimlico's G2 Dinner Party Stakes for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the turf. Sacred Life, ridden by Javier Castellano from post 5, has won two of six starts in the U.S. since coming over from France in 2019. He finished third in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland in his first start of the year on April 9. Skychai Racing and Sand Dollar Stable's 5-year-old Somelikeithotbrown, who finished second in last year's Dinner Party for trainer Mike Maker, and won last year's Grade 2 Bernard Baruch at Saratoga, will try to improve on his seventh-place finish in the April 2 G1 Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM051521USA12-EQB.html

5:52 p.m. ―$100,000 Grade 3 Soaring Softly Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

A wide-open field of 11 3-year-old fillies are set for Belmont's Soaring Softly at seven furlongs on the turf, led by the 5-2 morning line choice Toby's Heart. Trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by Manny Franco, Toby's Heart won the listed 5 ½-furlong TVG Limestone Stakes at Keeneland on April 9 to improve her record to three wins in four starts. Trainer Christophe Clement will start Bach Stables' Bye Bye, who broke her maiden by 2 ¾ lengths at five furlongs at Gulfstream Park on March 21, and Hoolie Racing Stable's and Madaket Stables' Hit the Woah, third last time out in the listed Sanibel Island at Gulfstream on March 27.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL051521USA10-EQB.html

5:58 p.m. ―$150,000 Grade 3 Louisville Stakes at Churchill Downs on FS2

Two-time grade 1 winner Arklow makes his 2021 debut against 13 rivals in the G3 Louisville Stakes at Churchill Downs going 1 ½ miles on the turf. A 7-year-old son of Arch, owned by Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger and the Estate of Peter Coneway, Arklow finished second by a head in last year's Louisville Stakes. He won the G3 Calumet Farm Kentucky Cup Turf at Kentucky Downs in September, and after a sixth-place finish in the G1 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, closed out 2020 by winning the G2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 27. Trained by Brad Cox, Arklow will be ridden by Florent Geroux. NBS Stable's 6-year-old gelding Spooky Channel has won nine races for trainer Jason Barkley, including the G3 John B. Connally at Sam Houston in January.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD051521USA11-EQB.html

6:38 p.m. – $1,000,000 Grade 1 Preakness Stakes from Pimlico on NBC

Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit, who upset 18 rivals in the May 1 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs at 12-1, is the 9-5 morning line favorite for Saturday's 146th G1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Pending final pre-race testing results from Maryland Racing Commission officials, Medina Spirit will break from post three under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, leading the 10-horse field of 3-year-olds contesting the 1 3/16-mile middle jewel of the Triple Crown.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who is trying for a record eighth Preakness win, is also starting Gary and Mary West's homebred Concert Tour (5-2), who incurred his first loss in four starts while finishing third in the G1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn last time out and skipped the Kentucky Derby. Winner of both the G2 San Vicente at Santa Anita and G2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, Concert Tour will be ridden for the first time by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith from post 10. (Pre-race testing results on Concert Tour are also pending).

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon (5-1) remains on the Triple Crown trail Saturday after finishing a troubled sixth in the Kentucky Derby, 8 ½ lengths behind Medina Spirit for trainer Steve Asmussen, who won the Preakness with Curlin in 2007 and the filly Rachel Alexandra in 2009. Midnight Bourbon finished second in the G2 TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby.

Trainer Chad Brown, who won the 2017 Preakness with Cloud Computing, will saddle Klaravich Stables' Crowded Trade and Risk Taking in search of his second Preakness success. Crowded Trade, who finished third in the G2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct last time out, is rated at 10-1 on the morning line, while Risk Taking, who won the G3 Withers before finishing a disappointing seventh in the Wood Memorial, is rated at 15-1. Crowded Trade drew post four, while Risk Taking will break from post nine.

John and Diane Fradkin's Rombauer, trained by Michael McCarthy, came from last at the top of the stretch to win the listed El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields in February, and was recently third in the G2 Toyota Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Japan will be represented in the Preakness with Yuji Inaida's Kentucky-bred France Go de Ina, trained by Hideyuki Mori, who finished sixth in the G2 UAE Derby at Meydan in Dubai.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/PIM051521USA13-EQB.html

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National Media Reacts To Medina Spirit Scandal With Skepticism, Outrage

As the situation surrounding Medina Spirit's positive betamethasone test has evolved through the course of this week, racing and mainstream media have covered the story extensively. The revelation that the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner failed an initial post-race drug test has also garnered op/eds from industry and non-industry publications. Most of those headlines express little patience for trainer Bob Baffert's explanation of the drug's presence.

In the interest of understanding how racing and its issues are viewed in the broader, non-racing world, the Paulick Report staff has compiled a sampling of those opinion and analysis pieces here, along with observations therein that we found particularly interesting. We encourage you to click the underlined links to read the full op/eds.

The Kentucky Derby Deserves Better Than This Butt Rash Of A Mess, WDRB
Writer Eric Crawford mourns the reputation of the Run for the Roses, which he says will be tarnished in the future by what he calls Baffert's “clear negligence.” Crawford also points out that both Baffert and his veterinarian were required to sign a document as a condition of stabling acknowledging their intent to follow rules and regulations laid out by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, including the body's medication regulations.

No, Failed Derby Drug Test Is Not 'Cancel Culture.' But Racing Needs Culture Change, Lexington Herald-Leader
Columnist Linda Blackford, writing before Baffert's Tuesday statement attributing the betamethasone test to an anti-fungal ointment, took exception to Baffert's declaration on Fox News Monday that Churchill's immediate ban on his entries constituted “cancel culture.” Blackford also pointed out that the Baffert case demonstrates the need for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), under which medication rules will be the same across the country, reducing the likelihood of therapeutic drug positives.

Bob Baffert's Leaking Credibility Reaches Saturation Point After Derby Drug Positive, Sports Illustrated
Pat Forde sees Baffert's history of drug positives — albeit, therapeutic positives — as eroding confidence in America's most recognizable trainer, particularly when his explanations for them seem designed to excuse them. Individually, Baffert's explanation for each positive seems plausible, but together they begin to sound hollow to Forde.

“Ultimately, this very much seems like the same sad song, different verse, when it comes to drug testing and sports,” he writes. “The denials are always vigorous. They are often fanciful. They are rarely compelling.”

Opinion: As Another Excuse Arises, Pimlico Won't Hold Bob Baffert Accountable For Medina Spirit's Positive Test, USA Today
Dan Wolken expresses frustration that Pimlico did not follow the lead of Churchill Downs and decline to allow Baffert entries until the scandal over the betamethasone overage is resolved. He points out that without Baffert's two runners — Medina Spirit and Concert Tour — this year's Preakness would have a historically weak field. If either horse wins, racing will be in an especially awkward position in the event Medina Spirit's Derby victory is eventually stripped. Wolken makes clear that he doesn't expert racing commissions to take significant action against the trainer even if that disqualification happens.

“True accountability, in the end, is going to have to come from within,” he wrote, pointing out that Spendthrift has removed horses from Baffert's care.

Baffert In Spotlight For Wrong Reasons Going Into Preakness, Associated Press via Seattle Times
While Baffert and his team couldn't get enough of the media Sunday and Monday, Associated Press reporter Stephen Whyno writes that assistant Jimmy Barnes has refused to answer questions about the ongoing Medina Spirit debacle. And while the atmosphere at Pimlico is different this year, Whyno said one fixture, trainer D. Wayne Lukas, is still lingering outside the stakes barn and giving his opinion to whoever wants to hear it.

Lukas, for his part, believes the commission should raise the threshold for therapeutic substances “to what's realistic” and said he wishes he was still on the Kentucky commission to impact the outcome of any hearing Baffert may go through.

“I would absolutely today tell my colleagues that we need to just dismiss this, throw it out, put the Derby winner back on the throne and move on,” he said. “Obviously (21) picograms or whatever that horse had had no effect on the race or his performance. And every vet and every scientist and every lab will tell you that. You almost think the lab should probably have poured it down the sink in the first place.”

Sullivan: Bob Baffert Needs New Strategy After Betamethasone Claims Backfire, Louisville Courier-Journal
Tim Sullivan, who has been covering the scandal since the beginning, anticipates that Baffert's legal strategy will be to attack the credibility of the regulation guiding betamethasone withdrawal. Unfortunately for him, Sullivan believes Baffert's intent behind using an anti-fungal cream containing betamethasone isn't relevant based on how the rules are written. He points out that the phenylbutazone rule that resulted in the disqualification of Dancer's Image in 1968 wasn't changed until 1974, and in the meantime the Kentucky Supreme Court validated the stewards' decision to disqualify Dancer's Image under the rules in place when the horse ran.

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