Kentucky Derby winner, Medina Spirit has been disqualified after failing a drug test for a banned substance. The corticosteroid, Betamethasone, was found in the horse’s system. Medina Spirit was the only horse to test positive for the drug in the entire field. This is a huge deal in the horse racing world. Not only is this horse a Derby winner, but Medina Spirit is also a Bob Baffert horse. Considered one of the best trainers in the business, this is a big hit to his record.
Baffert and his team will of course appeal the decision. He spoke with the press and denied any wrongdoing. After the Kentucky Derby, each horse is tested for performance enhancers and other banned substances. Just like any other athlete. The tests take a week to get results back. Here is the famed trainer speaking with the press today.
— Paulick Report (@paulickreport) May 9, 2021
The famed trainer had this to say:
“[There is a] problem in horse racing, but it’s not Bob Baffert”
Medina Spirit would be only the second Kentucky Derby winner to be DQ’d after testing positive for a banned substance. The only other instance was Dancer’s Image in 1968. That horse tested positive for phenylbutazone, which is an anti-inflammatory drug. Dancer’s Image would go on to run in the Preakness Stakes just to be disqualified again after bumping another horse.
As for Baffert, this is the second year in a row a horse of his has tested positive with Betamethasone. In 2020, Baffert filly Gamine tested positive for the same substance. That was at the Kentucky Oaks 2020 at Churchill Downs. However, if past is any precedent, Medina Spirit will be able to run in the next leg of the Triple Crown. Whether those wins will stack on each other or not remains to be seen.
If this disqualification holds up, then we go another year with a Kentucky Derby controversy. In 2019, the supposed winner Maximum Security was disqualified due to bumping on the track, which led to Country House’s victory. Unlike in 2019, bettors will keep their winnings from the 2021 Kentucky Derby if they had bet on Medina Spirit. Trainers, jockeys, and owners would be required to give up any winnings if the DQ holds up.
