Derby winner Medina Spirit tests positive, Churchill Downs suspends Baffert

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Churchill Downs has suspended trainer Bob Baffert from entering horses at the track and said it could disqualify Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit after the horse failed a post-race drug test.

The track said in a statement Sunday that they would not tolerate anything that jeopardizes the safety of horses and jockeys and taints the sport's integrity and the reputation of the Derby.

“Given the seriousness of the alleged offense, Churchill Downs will immediately suspend Bob Baffert, the trainer of Medina Spirit, from entering any horses at Churchill Downs Racetrack," the statement says.

“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.”

Baffert said he was told that Medina Spirit had 21 picograms of betamethasone in the postrace sample, double the legal limit in Kentucky

The last horse to be disqualified after winning the Derby for medication was Dancer's Image in 1968.

Medina Spirit is expected to arrive at Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness Stakes, on Monday. The Maryland Jockey Club, which runs the Preakness, said in a statement that it will "review the relevant facts" on Medina Spirit's entry in this Saturday's race.

Associated Press reporting contributed to this story.

 

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