Re:Medina Spirit’s results in the Kentucky Derby will be invalidated

Churchill Downs’ Statement in Response to
Medina Spirit’s Post-Race Test Result Allegations
LOUISVILLE, KY. (Sunday, May 9, 2021) – 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.
About Churchill Downs Incorporated
Churchill Downs Incorporated is an industry-leading racing, online wagering and gaming entertainment
company anchored by our iconic flagship event, the Kentucky Derby. We own and operate three parimutuel gaming entertainment venues with approximately 3,050 historical racing machines in Kentucky.
We also own and operate TwinSpires, one of the largest and most profitable online wagering platforms
for horse racing, sports and iGaming in the U.S. and we have seven retail sportsbooks. We are also a
leader in brick-and-mortar casino gaming in eight states with approximately 11,000 slot machines and
video lottery terminals and 200 table games. Additional information about CDI can be found online at
www.churchilldownsincorporated.com .

This is big news.
Bob Baffert can't enter horses at Churchill Downs.
Plus his new record would be taken away from having the most Derby winners.

"This is the biggest gut-punch I've had in racing and it's for something I didn't do," Baffert told reporters. "It's an injustice. I don't know what's going on in racing now but it's not right.

“I cannot believe that I’m here. I don’t feel embarrassed, I feel like I was wronged. We’re going to do a complete investigation. He’s a great horse and he doesn’t deserve this.”

Could also influence the betting market for Preakness Stakes.

justify returned a positive leading up to the
derby

Bob Baffert has been a serial offender and seems to continually have an exuse
A positive was blamed on a employee have a pain patch for a bad back
also a drug that was given 18 days before a race and should have cleared
in time
He has 30 positives in 10 years
Paid fines but never suspended

Bob Baffert’s 12 months winning Strike Rate is currently an awesome 36%. Unheard of in this country and I’m sure, too, in other overseas nations.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Message from WSB



Breaking News! On Sunday, news broke that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit had failed a drug test and could be disqualified.

Normally this would mean that punters that backed 2nd placed finisher Mandaloun are out of luck!

But not at World Sports Betting! We're paying out!

Kentucky Derby win in question after Medina Spirit spotted training with Lance Armstrong
Louisville, KY - Just hours after it was revealed that the Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit, failed a post-race drug test; new photos have emerged showing the 3-year-old thoroughbred training with Lance Armstrong.

"Of course, these photos are going to fuel more speculation," said a Derby representative. "And we believe they will figure heavily into our investigation."

The series of photos show the two athletes racing on various tracks and candid images of strategy meetings inside the stable. According to reports, other pictures, which have yet to be made public, show more nefarious behavior.

This is a developing story.

Bob Brogan wrote: Message from WSB

Breaking News! On Sunday, news broke that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit had failed a drug test and could be disqualified.

Normally this would mean that punters that backed 2nd placed finisher Mandaloun are out of luck!

But not at World Sports Betting! We're paying out!

Well done again WSB excellent gesture 👏

Whether he holds his Kentucky Derby victory temporarily or forever, Medina Spirit was the center of attention when he arrived Monday afternoon at Pimlico Race Course ahead of his presumed run in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

After a 600-mile van ride that began before dawn from Churchill Downs, Medina Spirit, stablemate Concert Tour and three other horses from the barn of embattled trainer Bob Baffert arrived at about 2:30 p.m. EDT, preceded in a separate car by assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes.

“It seemed simple,” said Barnes, who got to Baltimore about two hours ahead of schedule. “Actually, we’re here even earlier than when we fly sometimes. Sometimes they have two flights, and if you’re on the second flight, they’ve got to come here and go back. Other than having to drive 600 miles, it went very smooth.”

Flying was not an option after Tex Sutton Equine Air Transportation was at least temporarily grounded by the expiration of a vendor contract.

That complication paled by comparison to Sunday’s news of a positive test for the anti-inflammatory medication betamethasone, a drug that Baffert and his team denied using on Medina Spirit. If a second sample comes back with another positive result, Medina Spirit would lose his Derby triumph. That test is not expected to be concluded this week.

“I’m just here ready for the next race,” Barnes said.

Facing the specter of a fifth drug investigation Baffert saying he will not come to Baltimore to see if Medina Spirit or Concert Tour will deliver his record-breaking eighth Preakness victory, Barnes is like the interim head coach who suddenly gets thrust in front of the media.

“I can’t be thinking about that,” he said. “I’ve got to be thinking about what’s ahead of me.”

The Stronach Group and the Maryland Jockey Club still had not ruled by late Monday afternoon on the question of whether it would use the drug positive in Kentucky to suspend Baffert, as Churchill Downs did, or try to keep Medina Spirit from racing in the Preakness. Either move could trigger legal action by Baffert.

If Monday’s draw for Friday’s races was any indication, TSG and the MJC may let Baffert’s horses race under his name. That is because Grade 3-winning filly Beautiful Gift was listed in the draw for the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) with Baffert as the trainer of record.

In addition to Medina Spirit and Concert Tour, the Baffert barn will be represented Saturday by Following See in the Chick Lang (G3) and Hozier in the Sir Barton. The Saturday card will be drawn Tuesday afternoon; the Preakness draw is at 4 p.m. EDT and will be streamed at Facebook.com/Preakness.

Barnes said he will not change his routine because Baffert is absent. So don’t expect to see him out for a night around the Inner Harbor with this week’s jockeys.

“I don’t need to go out and party,” he said. “Strategy? That will be Bob’s department. He’ll call the jockeys and tell them what we’re doing. My job is exactly the same. It doesn’t change at all. I’ve just got to go out there and win. For the team.”

Two traditions that usually go with the arrival of the Derby winner were not followed this year. Rather than using the stall on the east end of the stakes barn, Barnes put Medina Spirit closer to the middle. There was also no police escort, since the horse was vanned in rather than transferred from a flight.