Baffert Suspended from KY Derby Track

In a remarkable move, following an alleged drug breach by bargain horse Medina Spirit (Protonico) when winning the Gr1 Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs has suspended Bob Baffert from entering horses at the track. According to theguardian.com, the track also intimated that “if the results of a failed postrace drug test are upheld”, it will effectively strip Medina Spirit of his Derby victory. Coming out swinging, the track further claimed in a statement, “Failure to comply with the rules and medication protocols jeopardizes the safety of horses and jockeys, the sport’s integrity and the Derby’s reputation… 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.” It isn’t since 1968, when Dancer’s Image lost the Run to The Rose for an alleged medication violation, that the world famous 3YO event has faced such a calamity. Adding fuel to the fire, despite Baffert refuting the charges, is that Medina Spirit is the premium trainer’s fifth horse to fail a drug test in the past year. “This shouldn’t have happened. There’s a problem somewhere,” Baffert insisted. “It [the alleged 21 picograms of the steroid betamethasone] didn’t come from us.” Creating a potential brouhaha is that Medina Spirit remains an entry for Saturday’s Gr1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, the second leg of the Triple Crown. Baffert reportedly plans to submit hair, blood and DNA samples as part of the enquiry process, but claimed, “I’m not a conspiracy theorist. I know everybody is not out to get me, but there’s definitely something wrong. Why is it happening? You know, there’s problems in racing, but it’s not Bob Baffert.”