“I spoke to the attending veterinarian, and when they got to him on the track he had already expired,” said Dr. Blea, former American Association of Equine Practitioners president, speaking from the AAEP convention in Nashville, Tenn. “Not sure where on the track it happened but it was post wire.

“I will have them draw blood and pull hair and will try and get urine for testing. He'll go out to UC Davis in San Bernardino, for a full and
comprehensive necropsy including toxicology, forensics and tissue sampling. We will take a close look at the heart to try and identify the cause of death.”

The colt's Derby win remains in jeopardy due to a positive post-race test result for betamethasone, a therapeutic medication that is not allowed on race day. The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has not yet held a hearing, required to disqualify Medina Spirit, but on Friday attorneys for Baffert released a statement claiming that tests conducted by a New York laboratory have “definitively confirmed” Medina Spirit tested positive for a corticosteroid not through an injection but because of an ointment used to treat a skin rash.

Medina Spirit was bred in Florida by Gail Rice, mother of Eclipse Award finalist Taylor Rice (apprentice jockey) and mother-in-law to top jockey Jose Ortiz, out of the Brilliant Speed mare Mongolian Changa. The mare failed to produce milk when Medina Spirit was first born, and Rice had to turn to her only other broodmare, Scribbling Sarah, for assistance. The young Medina Spirit thrived, and his own mom started producing milk several hours later.

Unfortunately, Rice's divorce forced the sale of Medina Spirit as a yearling. He brought the bottom-dollar bid of $1,000 at the OBS Winter Mixed sale in early 2019.

Bloodstock agent Gary Young saw the 2-year-old Medina Spirit at the 2020 OBS July sale, and recommended the purchase to Amr Zedan, who was able to purchase the colt for $35,000.

Medina Spirit won the G3 Bob Lewis, then underwent throat surgery after a sound defeat in the G2 San Felipe. The colt rebounded to run a good second in the G1 Santa Anita Derby before heading to Louisville.

Medina Spirit has run four times since his Kentucky Derby win, finishing third in the Preakness Stakes and recording victories in the Shared Belief Stakes and the Grade 1 Awesome Again. Overall, the colt's record includes five wins, four seconds and a third from 10 starts, with earnings of $3,545,200.

Baffert had been aiming Medina Spirit at the Saudi Cup in February.

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The Protonico colt's 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. Trainer Bob Baffert and his attorney have claimed the positive is a result of a topical cream (Otomax) 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.

Counsel for Medina Spirit's trainer Bob Baffert and owner Zedan Stables, Craig Robertson, filed a civil suit against the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on June 7 demanding their right to test the split urine sample, which sat undisturbed in the commission's freezer. Remnants of the original biologic samples were initially sent to be tested for those ingredients, but they were reportedly damaged before arrival at the plaintiffs' choice of labs, the New York Equine Drug Testing and Research Laboratory.

Franklin County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Wingate ordered June 16 that the remaining urine sample be flown to the New York lab, that two KHRC representatives travel with the sample, and that plaintiffs fund the flight. Upon arrival, the KHRC was to retain 5 milliliters of the sample, while the remainder was to be tested for clotrimazole, gentamicin, and betamethasone valerate, active ingredients in the topical cream Otomax.

On July 14, the sample was flown to New York accompanied by Dr. Clara Fenger and Tom Huckeby, representing Baffert and Medina Spirit's owner, Amr Zedan, as well as by KHRC executive director Marc Guilfoil and equine medical director Dr. Bruce Howard.

On Aug. 9 in Judge Wingate's courtroom, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's general counsel Jennifer Wolsing explained: “My understanding is that an affirmative defense is being mounted by the plaintiffs, to the extent that there may be some evidence as to how this substance (betamethasone) was introduced to the horse.

“We can't have a stewards hearing until those testing results have come back, because that appears to form the basis of the defense the plaintiffs want to mount. We would really like those results so that we can press forward with a stewards hearing and find out more about this case.”

When that hearing occurs, Medina Spirit could be disqualified and Baffert could be fined and/or suspended by the KHRC. A suspension would be reciprocated across other racing jurisdictions.

Since his run in the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit has run four times. He finished third in the Preakness, then won the Shared Belief Stakes and G1 Awesome Again, and finished second in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic.

Read more at bloodhorse.com.

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The sire of Kentucky Derby winner and champion 3-year-old colt contender Medina Spirit, who also won the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes and was second in the Breeders' Cup Classic, from his first crop has also sired two stakes horses from his second crop to race, bringing his lifetime AEI to 6.33 compared to Curlin (2.28), Tapit (2.24), Into Mischief (2.10) through Nov. 8.

His 2021 yearlings averaged $63,833 with a median of $66,000, and top prices of $120,000 and $100,000.

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The 10-year-old sire is also responsible for a pair of stakes horses from his second crop to race bringing his lifetime AEI to 6.33 (through 11/8/21). This term, his 2021 yearlings averaged $63,833, from six sold, with a median of $66,000. The top priced offerings by the sire this season sold for $120,000, and $100,000 at Keeneland September.

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Having given last Saturday's GI Pennsylvania Derby a miss, the blue-collar colt was rerouted to Saturday's GI Awesome Again S. and a first try against some accomplished older horses. With a berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic on the line, the Florida-bred once again displayed the tenacity and raw ability that carried him past the post first in the GI Kentucky Derby, leading every step of the way to cement his status as one of the top choices when they enter the gate around 5:40 Pacific time on the afternoon of Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

As low as 3-5 in the wagering, Medina Spirit eased out to be off at 13-10 and his already-strong chances were amplified when the speedy Tizamagician (Tiznow)–a latest second to Tripoli (Kitten's Joy) in the GI TVG Pacific Classic–failed to break alertly from the inside gate, allowing John Velazquez an uncontested time of things atop Medina Spirit after edging to the front with a circuit of the Santa Anita main track to traverse. He had to do some work through the opening couple of furlongs in :23.34, but Medina Spirit came back nicely to Velazquez and went the next internal quarter-mile in a more manageable :24.38, with Tizamagician having gained ground to be second.

He was able to get some more air into his lungs with the next two furlongs timed in :24.02 and Medina Spirit traveled ears-pricked into the final three-eighths of a mile. Tizamagician and Tripoli, who was three and four wide the trip, tried to make a race of it in upper stretch, but Medina Spirit had plenty left and kicked home a decisive winner. Iowa Derby winner Stilleto Boy (Shackleford), third to Medina Spirit last time in the Aug. 29 Shared Belief S., ran a blinder to be second at 54-1, two lengths better than Express Train (Union Rags) in third.

“I'm happy for Zedan and what we have had to deal with,” said trainer Bob Baffert, winning the Awesome Again/Goodwood for a record-extending seventh time. “We stayed focused on the horses. The fans came out to see this horse and they are rooting for him. I could tell by the crowd noise. They are all pulling for him.  It's an emotional win for us. Johnny V. can do whatever with the horse. He can wait, stalk, whatever. This horse keeps getting better and better.”

Medina Spirit was the refuse-to-lose winner of the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. Jan. 30, an effort that was sandwiched between runner-up efforts to 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in the GIII Sham S. and GII San Felipe S. before disappointing fractionally when second to Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 3. Those who kept the faith got odds of 12-1 for the GI Kentucky Derby, where his fighting qualities were on display yet again, clawing his way to a half-length defeat of 'Rising Star' Mandaloun (Hot Rod Charlie), with future Pennsylvania Derby hero Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) third and champion 'Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit) fourth. Allowed to participate conditionally in the May 15 GI Preakness S. in the immediate aftermath of the betamethasone positive that remains a cloud over the Derby five months later, Medina Spirit was no better than third behind Rombauer (Twirling Candy). After skipping the summer's major 3-year-old events, he was not among the original nominees to the Shared Belief, but was supplemented at entry time and reversed form with Rock Your World in that Aug. 29 event.

Pedigree Notes:

Medina Spirit is one of seven winners from two crops to race by the Giant's Causeway stallion Protonico, a four-time graded winner and twice placed at Grade I level, each time behind the Baffert-trained Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday). He is the only foal to date for Mongolian Changa, who was covered this year by Giant's Causeway's son Not This Time. Medina Spirit's third dam Holy Niner was a half-sister to GISW High Yield (Storm Cat).

Saturday, Santa Anita
AWESOME AGAIN S.-GI, $301,500, Santa Anita, 10-2, 3yo/up,
1 1/8m, 1:49.67, ft.
1–MEDINA SPIRIT, 122, c, 3, by Protonico
                1st Dam: Mongolian Changa, by Brilliant Speed
                2nd Dam: Bridled, by Unbridled
                3rd Dam: Holy Niner, by Holy Bull
($1,000 Ylg '19 OBSWIN; $35,000 2yo '20 OBSOPN). O-Zedan
Racing Stables, Inc.; B-Gail Rice (FL); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R.
Velazquez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 9-5-3-1, $2,525,200.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: B.
2–Stilleto Boy, 118, g, 3, Shackleford–Rosie's Ransom, by
Marquetry. ($420,000 3yo '21 FTKHRA). O-Steve Moger;
B-John Kerber & Iveta Kerber (KY); T-Ed Moger, Jr. $60,000.
3–Express Train, 124, c, 4, Union Rags–I'm a Flake, by
Mineshaft. ($500,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-C R K Stable LLC;
B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY); T-John A. Shirreffs. $36,000.\Margins: 5, 2, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.30, 54.80, 6.70.
Also Ran: Tripoli, Tizamagician, Idol, Azul Coast, Midcourt.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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6th-BEL, $90k, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 3:38 p.m. ET

Seven horses make their career debut in this potential-laden nine-horse field, headed by PROTONIC POWER (Protonico), part of an uncoupled entry for the Todd Pletcher barn. Owned by Sumaya US Stable, who campaigned his sire, the colt is out of Grade III winner Sheza Smoke Show (Wilko), making him a half to 2020 OBS April topper and subsequent Grade I winner Princess Noor (Not This Time). The bay stayed home at Belmont for the summer and shows an upbeat worktab, highlighted by a half-mile gate breeze in :48 2/5 (5/66) over the main track Aug. 28. The other half of the Pletcher duo is Al Shaqab Racing's narrow morning-line favorite Afjan (Uncle Mo). The homebred is the second foal to race out of GSW/MGISP Scarlet Strike (Smart Strike), following this year's British G3 Supreme S. hero Toro Strike (Toronado {Ire}). Scarlet Strike is also a half-sister to Grade I winners Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song) and Visionaire (Grand Slam). Afjan most recently breezed a sharp five furlongs from the gate over the local training track in 1:00 3/5 (2/28) Sept. 10. Cairama (Cairo Prince) turned heads at OBS March when breezing a furlong in :9 4/5 before hammering for $525,000, 35 times her sire's stud fee and debuts from the rail for the red-hot Steve Asmussen barn. Pegged as a 15-1 longshot on the morning line in his career bow for Nick Zito, Atlantic Thoroughbreds' Atlantic Dancer (American Pharoah) is a half-brother to last year's GII Tampa Bay Derby hero and GI Arkansas Derby runner-up King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) and hammered for $400,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. TJCIS PPs

—@JBiancaTDN

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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.

Read more at the Daily Racing Form.

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“Medina Spirit's not coming,” Heims told the APP. “The race just comes up too quickly.”

The Haskell is a “Win and You're In” race for the Breeders' Cup Classic this fall at Del Mar.

Medina Spirit has only breezed once since the May 15 Preakness, a three-furlong move at Santa Anita in 37.60 seconds on June 14.

The Protonico colt's 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.

Read more at the Asbury Park Press.

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A look at the bloodlines of second-crop sire Protonico is a prime example of the genetic mysteries that propel Thoroughbreds in vastly different directions. A multiple graded stakes winner and near millionaire, Protonico has quickly gained attention as the sire of Medina Spirit, who crossed the wire first in this year's Kentucky Derby. While he capitalizes on that new-found fame, his younger half siblings Kakadu and Lock Keeper have become champions in the eyes of their owners.

Protonico (2011 by Giant's Causeway), Kakadu (2013 Tizway mare) and Lock Keeper (2016 Quality Road gelding) are offspring of the A.P. Indy mare Alpha Spirit, who was unplaced in two starts. Like her aforementioned offspring, she raced as a homebred for Oussama Aboughazale's International Equities Holding. In contrast to Protonico, the records of Kakadu and Lock Keeper are nearly identical to their dam. Their connections recognized they were better suited to a non-racing line of work and channeled them to T & B Sporthorses of Brooke Schafer and Tay Wienold for initial reschooling in Lexington.

Kakadu now is being refashioned as an eventer by Lexington-based Heather Goumas. The mare has a natural inclination for the jumping portion of the sport, which also includes the precision movements of dressage. Lock Keeper is continuing his education with Emily Joyce in Massachusetts with a dressage focus.

Goumas and Joyce knew their show prospects were closely related to some of racing's biggest names but neither was aware that the winner of America's most legendary race is their horses' “nephew” Medina Spirit.

“That is excellent; that is pretty neat,” said Goumas, who was knowledgeable of Kakadu's bragging rights as the dam of American Pharoah's first foal named First Pharoah. First Pharoah's unique status made him a headliner for awhile but his stout build made him an unlikely racing candidate. He, too, found his way to life as a pleasure mount after Kakadu's subsequent reproductive difficulty left First Pharoah as her only offspring.

The lofty lineage of Kakadu and Lock Keeper certainly is a conversation piece but it is their demeanors that have charmed their owners.

Kakadu, now known as Luna, was originally purchased for Goumas's 16-year-old daughter. When their personalities did not quite click, her daughter switched to showing Goumas's Warmblood mount instead while Goumas continues with Kakadu.

“With mares especially you have to find the right fit,” Goumas said. “She and Luna are both pretty sassy.”

Goumas lovingly explained that sassiness.

”Just recently I had Kakadu in the (barn aisle) cross ties and she deliberately swatted her tail at my daughter when she walked by,” Goumas said. “When I gently brush her knees, she squeals and stomps her foot. She very plainly says 'this is what I like, this is what I don't like.' She is sweet, too, and really curious. She is very interested and is always looking for the next jump.”

A through-the-ears shot of Lock Keeper in his new job.
Photo courtesy Emily Joyce

Lock Keeper, whose barn name is Keeper, has endeared himself to those at his stable with his “puppy dog” ways and eagerness to learn according to Joyce.

“He is very calm,” Joyce said. “Most people could not believe that he was only four when I got him last year. He is so willing under saddle. He is generally better behaved than most horses who are much older than him. He is not spooky. He would rather go up to something and sniff it. If you leave something near his stall door, it will be in his mouth and he will shake it up and down. He is a very bright, curious horse.”

Both Goumas and Joyce emphasized team work and a steady program to fully transition racehorses into their new assignments.

“It was important to me to get a horse who had been restarted and had come from a reputable home,” she said. “I have the right boarding facility and the right trainer to develop a program for him. Horses like a routine and like to work.”

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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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