Tag: Triple Crown

Baffert: Anti-Fungal Ointment Could Be Source Of Betamethasone Positive In Medina Spirit

Trainer Bob Baffert released the following statement via his attorney, Craig Robinson, on Tuesday:

On May 8, 2021, I was informed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that Medina Spirit allegedly tested positive for 21 picograms of betamethasone. On May 9, 2021, I held a press conference in which I stated that I intended to thoroughly investigate how this could have happened and that I would be completely transparent throughout the process. I immediately began that investigation, which has resulted in me learning of a possible source for the betamethasone, and now, as promised, I want to be forthright about what I have learned.

Following the Santa Anita Derby, Medina Spirit developed dermatitis on his hind end. I had him checked out by my veterinarian who recommended the use of an anti-fungal ointment called Otomax. The veterinary recommendation was to apply this ointment daily to give the horse relief, help heal the dermatitis, and prevent it from spreading. My barn followed this recommendation and Medina Spirit was treated with Otomax once a day up until the day before the Kentucky Derby. Yesterday, I was informed that one of the substances in Otomax is betamethasone.

While we do not know definitively that this was the source of the alleged 21 picograms found in Medina Spirit's post-race blood sample, and our investigation is continuing, I have been told by equine pharmacology experts that this could explain the test results. As such, I wanted to be forthright about this fact as soon as I learned of this information.

As I have stated, my investigation is continuing and we do not know for sure if this ointment was the cause of the test results, or if the test results are even accurate, as they have yet to be confirmed by the split sample. However, again, I have been told that a finding of a small amount, such as 21 picograms, could be consistent with application of this type of ointment. I intend to continue to investigate and I will continue to be transparent.

In the meantime, I want to reiterate two points I made when this matter initially came to light. First, I had no knowledge of how betamethasone could have possibly found its way into Medina Spirit (until now) and this has never been a case of attempting to game the system or get an unfair advantage. Second, horse racing must address its regulatory problem when it comes to substances which can innocuously find their way into a horse's system at the picogram (which is a trillionth of a gram) level. Medina Spirit earned his Kentucky Derby win and my pharmacologists have told me that 21 picograms of betamethasone would have had no effect on the outcome of the race. Medina Spirit is a deserved champion and I will continue to fight for him.

Trainer Bob Baffert provided this photograph, indicating the subject is Medina Spirit and the dermatitis on his hind end following the Santa Anita Derby

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Medina Spirit Drops To Fourth In NTRA Top 3-Year-Old Poll

Following the report of a failed drug test by race winner Medina Spirit after the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve at Churchill Downs on May 1, there has been a shake up in the top five positions in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll. Juddmonte's Mandaloun, runner-up to Medina Spirit by a half-length in the Derby, has risen to No. 1 in the poll, with Zedan Racing's Medina Spirit dropping to No. 4.

Trained by Brad Cox, Mandaloun, who was third in last week's poll, received six first-place votes and 277 points. Mandaloun's stablemate, Godolphin's Essential Quality, who finished fourth in the Derby as the 5-2 favorite and is also trained by Cox, remains in second place with eight first-place votes and 275 points. Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, Strauss Bros Racing and Gainesway Thoroughbreds' Hot Rod Charlie, third in the Derby, moves up one place to third. Trained by Doug O'Neill, Hot Rod Charlie has 250 points. Medina Spirit, trained by Bob Baffert, is next with 18 first-place votes and 215 points. Shadwell Stable's undefeated bay filly, Malathaat, winner of the Grade 1 Longines Kentucky Oaks, stays in fifth place with one first-place vote and 184 points for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Gary and Mary West's homebred, Concert Tour, winner of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn, holds onto sixth place. Also trained by Baffert, Concert Tour has 99 points. Two Steve Asmussen-trained horses are next. Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon, who finished sixth in the Derby, has 80 points and moves from 10th to seventh place in this week's poll. Kirk and Judy Robison's Jackie's Warrior, who captured Churchill's Grade 2 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU, is in an eighth-place tie with Hronis Racing and Talla Racing's Rock Your World, winner of the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. Both Jackie's Warrior and Rock Your World, the latter trained by John Sadler, have 77 points. WinStar Farm and CHC's Life Is Good, off the Triple Crown trail due to injury, drops from seventh to 10th place, registering one first-place vote and 74 points.

Godolphin's 4-year-old Mystic Guide, winner of the Group 1 Dubai World Cup, retains the top position in this week's National Thoroughbred Poll. Trained by Mike Stidham, Mystic Guide received 27 first-place votes and 310 points. The Baffert-trained 4-year-old Charlatan, runner-up in the Group 1 Saudi Cup, is in second place with five first-place votes and 250 points. Two Cox-trained runners have switched positions this week. Korea Racing Authority's Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go rises from fifth to third place with one first-place vote and 187 points, while Monomoy Girl, the reigning older dirt female Eclipse Award-winner, is now in fifth place. Monomoy Girl, owned by My Racehorse, Spendthrift Farm LLC and Madaket Stables, has 181 points. Sandwiched in between Knicks Go and Monomoy Girl, in fourth place, is Robert and Lawana Low's 4-year-old Colonel Liam (184 points), who finished in a dead heat for first with Domestic Spending in the Grade 1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs.

The next five positions in the poll remain unchanged. Michael Lund Peterson's Eclipse Award-winning female sprinter Gamine (138 points) is in sixth place. St. George Stable's 5-year-old mare Letruska (132 points), winner of Oaklawn's Grade 1 Grade Apple Blossom, is in seventh place. Godolphin's 4-year-old Maxfield, trained by Brendan Walsh, is in eighth place with one first-place vote and 116 points. The Cox-trained 4-year-old filly Shedaresthedevil (84 points) is in ninth place. Completing the Top 10 is Klaravich Stable's 4-year-old Domestic Spending (51 points), for trainer Chad Brown.

The NTRA Top Thoroughbred polls are the sport's most comprehensive surveys of experts. Every week eligible journalists and broadcasters cast votes for their top 10 horses, with points awarded on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis. All horses that have raced in the U.S., are in training in the U.S., or are known to be pointing to a major event in the U.S. are eligible for the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. Voting in the Top Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Poll concludes following the Belmont Stakes on June 5 and the Top Thoroughbred Poll is scheduled to be conducted through Nov. 6.

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Japan’s France Go De Ina Takes First Tour Of Pimlico Course

Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina had Pimlico Race Course all to himself Monday morning. After arriving on Saturday night, the Japanese invader got his first look at the racetrack at 10:15 a.m.

The expected longshot in Saturday's 146th Preakness Stakes (G1), got his first look at the track when he and exercise rider Masaki Takano came on the track after regular training hours in accordance with quarantine regulations. They walked a lap around the track the opposite way and then jogged around the right way another time. Then it was back to the quarantine barn, which is a few barns away from the stakes barn.

“He just stretched his legs,” said Kate Hunter. the Preakness field representative for the Japan Racing Association. “It was pretty easy because there were no other horses around. He was able to relax, check everything out and see everything really well because it was nice and sunny. He seemed very relaxed.”

France Go de Ina, who was bred in Kentucky, is a son of Will Take Charge.

According to Hunter, trainer Hideyuki Mori flew into Dulles International Airport Monday morning and was due to be at the barn to check on his horse Monday afternoon.

France Go de Ina has two wins in four career starts. In his last race, he finished sixth, beaten 10 ½ lengths, in the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai. Jockey Joel Rosario, who rode him in that race, will be on board in the Preakness.

“I would assume so,” Hunter said when asked if she thought France Go de Ina would be a long price on Preakness Day. “Our dirt horses are not as good as our turf horses, but (Mori) would not be here if he didn't think he had a shot at it.”

Original hopes were that France Go de Ina might run in the Kentucky Derby (G1), but he lost any chance of getting qualifying points when he missed the break and finished sixth in the UAE Derby.

“The moment that race broke, I said, 'Hey, if you want to try the other two legs of the Triple Crown, you're nominated, so we can go for it if you want to,'” Hunter said. “When the horse came out of the UAE Derby OK, that's what (Mori) decided to do.”

Hunter has lived outside of Tokyo for the last 13 years and is a Triple Crown recruiting agent. She said she also works for the Breeders' Cup and Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

She said she also works “a little” on a contract basis with The Stronach Group and the New York Racing Association. She is originally from Nashville, Tenn.

Hunter said France Go de Ina's entourage also includes a photographer in addition to Mori and Takano, who also serves as assistant trainer and groom.

“We want to make sure he is fit and sound and ready to go,” Hunter said, “and, hopefully, kick a little American-trained butt.”

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Preakness: Asmussen Feeling ‘Very Optimistic’ With Midnight Bourbon

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon had the easy workout typical of a Steve Asmussen-trained horse five days before a race, covering the half-mile distance in 50.20 seconds at Churchill Downs on Monday morning. The Kentucky Derby (G1) sixth-place finisher is scheduled to van to Pimlico Race Course early Tuesday for a scheduled start in Saturday's 146th Preakness Stakes (G1).

“He's doing great, wonderful physically. I'm excited to run him in the Preakness,” said Asmussen, who was scheduled to take an early evening flight Monday to Baltimore. “This morning, I watched Midnight Bourbon work. He's just such a beautiful specimen and he goes over the racetrack so pretty. Driving back to the barn from the grandstand, I was thinking how crazy we are as horsemen. It's only less than two weeks from the disappointment of the Derby, and here I am, thinking I'm going to win a classic again and I get all giddy.”

Midnight Bourbon, who finished second in the Louisiana Derby (G2) after pressing the pace, was bumped leaving the starting gate in the Kentucky Derby and was far back early before closing steadily while racing four wide.

“It was such a great feeling in this year's Derby being able to run (Arkansas Derby (G1) winner) Super Stock for my parents and Erv Woolsey and Midnight Bourbon for Ron Winchell. Midnight Bourbon is a big feeler, so I led him over for the Derby and that was as great a feeling as I've had: to be able to physically lead one over for the Derby, and how exciting that was,” Asmussen said. “We had disappointing results in the race. He didn't get away from the gate the way we wanted. You walk back and you're disappointed and stuff. And here we are less than two weeks later and we're all jazzed up, ready to go to Baltimore and we love our chances. Very fortunate to have these chances and horses of this caliber. I'm very optimistic going to Baltimore.”

Asmussen, who saddled Curlin (2007) and filly Rachel Alexandra (2009) for Preakness victories, said he will again be on the shank leading Midnight Bourbon from the stakes barn to be saddled for the Preakness.

“Yeah, I'm going to lead Bourbon over,” he said. “He's just a lot of horse, and I'm probably the biggest guy in the barn.”

Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to ride Midnight Bourbon for the first time Saturday.

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