Medina Spirit Kentucky Derby win might be invalidated if failed drug check is upheld

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit’s victory might be invalidated whether it is upheld that the champion horse failed a drug check, Churchill Downs mentioned Sunday.

Medina Spirit’s instructor Bob Baffert might be in an instant suspended from getting into any horses in races at Churchill Downs’ observe “given the seriousness of the alleged offense,” mentioned the commentary from the corporate that runs the Derby.

“Failure to agree to the foundations and medicine protocols jeopardizes the security of the horses and jockeys, the integrity of our game and the recognition of the Kentucky Derby and all who take part. Churchill Downs is not going to tolerate it,” the clicking unlock mentioned.

If the discovering is upheld, runner-up Mandaloun might be declared the winner of the race, Churchill Downs mentioned.

Baffert on Sunday morning denied any wrongdoing. He printed at a information convention that Medina Spirit in a post-race check was once discovered to have 21 picograms of the steroid betamethasone, two times the felony threshold, in its machine.

“I were given the largest gut-punch in racing, for one thing I did not do,” Baffert mentioned.

Simply two different horses within the 147-year historical past of the Kentucky Derby were disqualified, in line with the Related Press.

“It’s our working out that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit’s post-race blood pattern indicated a contravention of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s equine drugs protocols,” Churchill Downs’ press unlock mentioned.

“The connections of Medina Spirit have the precise to request a check of a cut up pattern and we perceive they intend to take action,” the corporate mentioned.

“We can anticipate the belief of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commissions’ investigation ahead of taking additional steps.”

With reporting from the Related Press.