Bob Baffert, coach of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, stands close to the observe at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, April 28, 2021.B
Bob Baffert, coach of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, stands close to the observe at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, April 28, 2021.
Bryan Woolston | Reuters
“Mr. Baffert’s report of testing failures threatens public confidence in thoroughbred racing and the status of the Kentucky Derby,” the CEO mentioned.
“Given these repeated failures over the past yr, together with the more and more extraordinary explanations, we firmly consider that asserting our rights to impose these measures is our obligation and duty.”
Churchill Downs Inc. mentioned it reserved the proper to increase Baffert’s suspension “if there are extra violations in any racing jurisdiction.”
Baffert on Might 9 revealed that Medina Spirit had examined optimistic for betamethasone, a steroid used for therapeutic functions in horses, in a pattern taken the day of its Derby win per week earlier. Baffert mentioned 21 picograms of the drug have been present in the identical.
Though that drug may be legally used as a therapeutic in Kentucky on a horse, any hint of it on race day is grounds for disqualification if a second take a look at confirms it was within the blood on that day.
On Wednesday, legal professionals for Medina Spirit’s proprietor Amr Zedan and Baffert introduced {that a} second take a look at of a blood pattern had additionally discovered betamethasone.
Clark Brewster, the legal professional for the Zedan, informed CNBC that officers are permitting the Medina Spirit workforce to have one other lab analyze a 3rd pattern from the horse.
That take a look at, Brewster mentioned, may decide whether or not there are chemical compounds that may assist Baffert’s declare that the betamethasone might have come from a topical ointment generally known as Otomax, and never from an injection.
Brewster famous that picogram is only a trillionth of a gram.
“Hopefully they’ll make an inexpensive judgment,” Brewster mentioned, referring to the evaluate of the drug take a look at outcomes by the Kentucky Horse Racing Fee.
“I feel there can be unanimity on the topic that that is an infinitesimal quantity that would not have affected the race,” the lawyer mentioned.
Marty Irby, government director of the advocacy group Animal Wellness Motion, in an announcement, mentioned that Baffert’s suspension by Churchill Down was a “swift and significant motion … however the penalty falls in need of seeing justice and that observe in addition to others across the nation ought to take into account a larger penalty for the coach.”
“He is sneered at weak penalties for doping violations repeatedly,” Irby mentioned. “Baffert will solely get the message with a long-term suspension from the game.
“On the upside, it’s comforting to know that Baffert is not going to be allowed to compete on the Kentucky Derby till after the Horseracing Integrity and Security Act – that bans race day doping within the sport – has been carried out and brought full impact.”
Maryland racing officers in Might allowed Medina Spirit and one other Baffert-trained horse, Live performance Tour, to enter the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore after getting what they known as “a binding dedication” from Baffert for “full transparency of medical and testing outcomes that can permit for all outcomes to be launched to the general public.”
Medina Spirit completed third within the Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown, trailing behind the winner, Rombauer, and Midnight Bourbon. Live performance Tour completed ninth.
Disclosure: CNBC mum or dad NBCUniversal owns NBC and NBC Sports activities, which broadcast the Triple Crown races.