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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:

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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Baffert Reveals Betamethasone Positive for Derby Winner Medina Spirit

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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Gary Young On OBS Bargain Purchase Winning Kentucky Derby: ‘I’ll Remember That Moment For My Entire Life’

Veteran bloodstock agent Gary Young is still living on a proverbial Cloud Nine following Medina Spirit's victory in last Saturday's $3-million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (Grade 1).

Young, who is based in Southern California, purchased the Florida-bred Protonico colt for a mere $35,000 as a 2-year-old at the 2020 OBS July Sale for Amr Zedan.

“Jockey Victory Espinoza actually helped bridge the relationship with Mr. Zedan,” Young said. “He's a lifelong horse lover and he felt like he wanted to get back in the game. He met (Bob) Baffert in Saudi Arabia a couple years ago and he decided to take another swing at the game. The first sale we went to (2020 OBS April) he gave me a budget of $1 million and I got there that day and sometimes you hear rumblings about potential top sales prices around the sale. I called him about the two horses we marked down and told him there was a chance we wouldn't get both for that price and one may go for more than the budget.”

Young was correct and their first purchase was future Grade 1-winning filly Princess Noor, who dropped the hammer at $1.35 million. Princess Noor subsequently retired at the end of 2020 due to an injury but was pronounced in foal Friday to top stallion Into Mischief.

Following Princess Noor's purchase, Young returned to the sales ring to the rescheduled OBS July Sale. Because the sale was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Young only had 12 horses marked down in his catalogue to look at following the breeze preview days.

“After the last day of the preview I walked out of the sale similar to Rocky Balboa walking back to the corner after Apollo beat him up,” Young said. “I called Mr.Zedan and he asked me if I remember seeing a horse by Protonico breeze. It was easy to remember because there was only one horse by Protonico in the sale and he was one of the 12 horses I wrote down to look at. He told me his friend stands the stallion and asked if I could go look at him.

“In his sales breeze he kept his rhythm very well to the wire and actually continued out well to the seven-eighths pole. I have the catalogue of that sale and on the page for (Medina Spirit) I wrote, 'natural router stride.'”

When Young arrived to look at Medina Spirit prior to the sale, he noted his dark color like his sire Protonico. On the day of the sale, Young purchased Medina Spirit and he was shipped to Southern California to Baffert.

“I'm glad Mr. Zedan chose me to work with but even more importantly he chose Bob,” Young quipped.

Young arrived to Louisville eight days prior to this year's Kentucky Derby – the same time his prized purchase walked off the van to begin his final preparation for the “Run for the Roses.”

“I kept coming home to the hotel room all week knowing this horse would run well,” Young said. “In the Derby, I knew there wasn't a lot of speed inside of us. We knew Mandaloun had some speed but we thought Brad (Cox) would instruct (Florent Geroux) get him to relax. Rock Your World, who I considered our main opposition, got left leaving the gate.

“Down the backside you start looking around who's traveling well behind you. I could see Mandaloun was a different horse than the Louisiana Derby. He was probably pulling more than you like but he was running. Then, I noticed Flavien (Prat) on Hot Rod Charlie was traveling beautifully. Essential Quality was a little further out than Medina Spirit, Mandaloun and Hot Rod Charlie.”

Young's mere $35,000 purchase gamely turned back his rivals down the stretch for a half-length victory in the Kentucky Derby.

“I remember seeing Mr. Zedan after the race just fall to his knees in pure jubilation,” Baffert said. “What a humble man. We couldn't be happier for him.”

Young was noticeably hoarse Sunday morning following the Derby celebration.

“You can't put into words what winning the Kentucky Derby means,” Young said. “Life has been so good to me. I've been around so many talented people and horses. In the past I've been fortunate enough to win many Grade 1 races but there's only one Kentucky Derby and I'll remember that moment for my entire life.”

Medina Spirit will face his next test in next Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico. He returned to training Wednesday at Churchill Downs and will ship to Baltimore, Md., Monday afternoon.

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