Kentucky Derby winner medina spirit, who furnished trainer bob baffert with a file 7th win in the race, has failed a capsules take a look at. Baffert said he become “bowled over. After the horse examined above the restriction for betamethasone and insisted he had never administered the substance.
“He got the largest intestine punch in racing for some thing he did not do,” he stated. Medina spirit, ridden by means of john velazquez, gained America’s most well-known race at churchill downs on 1 may also.
Baffert, sixty eight, become the first instructor to win the united states triple crown for 37 years. While american pharoah completed the treble of kentucky derby, preakness stakes and belmont stakes in 2015.
The hall of fame instructor repeated the hat-trick with justify 3 years later. But on sunday, he advised newshounds that medina spirit had examined fantastic for 21 picograms of the anti inflammatory drug. Betamethasone above kentucky racing’s threshold of ten picograms in step with millilitre.
“it’s such an injustice to the horse. He don’t sense embarrassed, he experience like he was robbed,” said the california-primarily based teacher. “There are issues in racing, but it is not bob baffert. He do not trust in conspiracy theories, however why is it happening to his?”
Baffert said medina spirit has no longer yet been formally disqualified from the kentucky derby. Even though that also could take place after different checks and procedures are completed. “This shouldn’t become happened,” baffert stated. “there is a trouble someplace. It did not come from us.”
Churchill downs has suspended baffert from having entries for races. “if the findings are upheld, medina spirit’s consequences in the kentucky derby may be invalidated and mandaloun might be declared winner,” it said in a announcement.
“failure to conform with the policies and medicine protocols jeopardises. The safety of the horses and jockeys, the integrity of our recreation and the reputation of the kentucky derby and all who take part. Churchill downs will no longer tolerate it.”