Medina Spirit | Horse Racing Free Tips

Medina Spirit Supplemented to Shared Belief

Medina Spirit (Protonico) was supplemented, at a cost of $1,000, to Sunday's Shared Belief S., a one-mile event for 3-year-olds on the Del Mar main track. The $100,000 contest will be the first start for the colt since finishing third–beaten five lengths–by Rombauer in the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico May 15. His victory in the May 1 GI Kentucky Derby victory remains in limbo pending a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission ruling.

“I've entered him, he's running,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “I figure I'll use this as a prep for the Penn [$1-million GI Pennsylvania Derby, Sept. 25) and see how he likes this track.”

In his most recent work Monday, the dark bay covered five furlongs in :58.60, finishing on par with stablemate Ax Man for the fastest of 68 works at the distance and better than a half-second quicker than the next fastest move.

“He worked a little fast but he came out of it good,” Baffert said. “He's going to need the race, coming off a layoff, and he's got to go a mile. But, if I can run him here that will set him up to go on to the Pennsylvania Derby.”

Also scheduled to contest the Shared Belief is Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}), who defeated Medina Spirit by four lengths in the Apr. 3 GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Rock Your World, trained by John Sadler, subsequently finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby and sixth–beaten 22 lengths by Essential Quality–in the GI Belmont S. June 5.

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Medina Spirit Supplemented To Sunday’s Shared Belief Stakes

While his Kentucky Derby victory remains in limbo pending a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission ruling, the next start for Medina Spirit was made quite clear this morning.

Medina Spirit was supplemented, at a cost of $1,000, to Sunday's $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes, a one-mile event for 3-year-olds on the Del Mar main track. It will be the first start for the son of Protonico since finishing third, beaten 5 ½-lengths by Rombauer in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 15.

“I've entered him, he's running,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “I figure I'll use this as a prep for the Penn ($1 million Pennsylvania Derby, Sept. 25) and see how he likes this track.”

Days earlier, Baffert had indicated the Shared Belief was being given strong consideration but he was waiting to see another workout before finalizing a decision. Medina Spirit covered five furlongs in :58.60 on Monday, tied with stablemate Ax Man for the fastest of 68 works at the distance and better than a half-second quicker than the next most rapid.

“He worked a little fast but he came out of it good,” Baffert said. “He's going to need the race, coming off a layoff, and he's got to go a mile. But if I can run him here that will set him up to go on to the Pennsylvania Derby.”

Medina Spirit joining previously committed Rock Your World in the Shared Belief would set up a rematch of the Santa Anita Derby in which Rock Your World prevailed by 4 ¼ lengths to go three-for-three to that point in his career.

Rock Your World, trained by John Sadler, would subsequently finish 17th, beaten 24 ¼ lengths by Medina Spirit, in the Kentucky Derby and sixth, beaten 22 lengths by Essential Quality in the Belmont Stakes on June 5.

The field for the Shared Belief Stakes from the rail with jockeys in parentheses: Willy The Cobbler (Victor Espinoza); Medina Spirit (John Velazquez); Rock Your World (Umberto Rispoli); Team Merchants (Mario Gutierrez); The Great One (Flavien Prat), and Stilleto Boy (Kent Desormeaux).

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Medina Spirit Appears Likely To Return In Sunday’s Shared Belief Stakes

Kentucky Derby first-place finisher Medina Spirit recorded a bullet five-furlong move in 58 3/5 seconds on Monday at Del Mar, and the Daily Racing Form reports that the colt could make his first start of the summer in this Sunday's $100,000 Shared Belief Stakes.

The 3-year-old son of Protonico has not raced since finishing third in the G1 Preakness Stakes. Regular rider John Velazquez is expected to be up for trainer Bob Baffert. Others nominated for the Shared Belief include: Rock Your World, Stiletto Boy, The Great One, Classier, Defunded, Bobby Bo, Double Tough Tiger, Hudson Ridge, Isolate, It's My House, Laurel River, Mr. Impossible, Team Merchants, and Willy the Cobbler.

Baffert told Del Mar publicity on Saturday that the G1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 25 is the primary fall target for Medina Spirit, but that he was considering a local prep race depending on the outcome of Monday's workout.

Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby win is in jeopardy due to a positive post-race test result for betamethasone, a therapeutic medication that is not allowed on race day. Baffert and his attorney have claimed the positive is a result of a topical cream used to treat a case of dermatitis on the colt's hindquarters. Though the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has not yet held a hearing, required to disqualify Medina Spirit, but Baffert and his attorney have already filed suit against the commission asking a judge to grant further testing of the post-race samples.

Additional stories about Baffert's Kentucky Derby positive and ensuing legal battles can be found here.

Medina Spirit Possible for Pennsylvania Derby

Medina Spirit (Protonico), unraced since a third-place finish behind Rombauer (Twirling Candy) in the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico May 15, was not among the nominees to the Aug. 29 Shared Belief S., but may be ready for the GI Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 25, trainer Bob Baffert said Saturday.

“There have been rumors about that horse since May 1,” Baffert said with a laugh this morning. “There has been a lot of talk about that horse. He's going to breeze this week and I'll know more after that. I go work-by-work with him. I'm looking at the Pennsylvania Derby, maybe as an option. [The question becomes], do I give him a race here? I'm going to let him tell me, the horse will let me know.”

Runner-up to then-stablemate Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GII San Felipe S. Mar. 6 and to Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 3, Medina Spirit defied odds of 12-1 to cross the line first in the GI Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May. The horse–and his trainer–have since been embroiled in controversy regarding a betamethasone positive that was returned post-race and which has yet to be adjudicated.

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