Here we go again again

[cal828]

https://www.cbssports.com/general/ne...ert-suspended/

It's deja vu all over again.

[RUFFIAN]

.

Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Medina Spirit has tested positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone, and faces possible disqualification from the May 1 race at Churchill Downs, Bob Baffert announced May 9.

Baffert said Medina Spirit tested positive for 21 picograms of betamethasone—information that was relayed to him Friday by his assistant, Jimmy Barnes, who was served by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.

Betamethasone is a Class C drug that is allowed in Kentucky as a therapeutic.
However, state rules require at least a 14-day withdrawal time and any level of detection on race day is a violation.
The threshold was changed to zero from 10 picograms in August.

A split sample test will be requested by Baffert, who said he also independently arranged for DNA testing and hair follicle testing of Medina Spirit to confirm the positive test was not from a different horse. If the split sample confirms the original positive, a hearing will be held.

"I'm going to fight it tooth and nail because I owe it to the horse, I owe it to the owner, and I owe it to our industry," Baffert said.

"All I can tell you is that betamethasone even though it is an allowed drug, a therapeutic medication,
we did not give it. ... In fact, Medina Spirit has never been treated with betamethasone.

"Yesterday I got the biggest gut punch in racing for something that I didn't do. It's disturbing.

It's an injustice to the horse. … I don't know what's going on in racing right now, but there's something not right.

I don't feel embarrassed, I feel like I was wronged.

[RUFFIAN]

The post position draw for the 146th Preakness Stakes (G1) will now be held May 11 at approximately 4 p.m. ET at Pimlico Race Course, according to an announcement made May 9 by track owner The Stronach Group.

The draw for the second jewel in the Triple Crown was originally scheduled for May 10. News of the delay comes after the announcement Sunday that Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Medina Spirit failed a post-race drug test and was found to be positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone, facing possible disqualification from the May 1 race at Churchill Downs.

[JolyB]

It's difficult to believe that Maryland Jockey Club would want to deny the entry of the horse who is currently the Derby winner since no disqualification has yet occurred and I don't think that the test results of the second split will be available for at least a couple of weeks. The skeptic in me thinks they are just going through the motions before allowing the entry. Besides if the issue is a trainer violation, how in the world could they deny the entry of Medina Spirit and still allow Concert Tour to run?

[RUFFIAN]

CONCERT TOUR
IS NOT UNDER INVESTIGATION ?

IMHO
I personally do NOT believe Baffert did this

Possible Vendetta by someone who dislikes him

Someone trying to influence outcome

BAFFERT is too smart, too much to Lose
To do something like this
KNOWING THE WINNER IS TESTED AFTER THE RACE!

[cal828]

I'm thinking they will allow the entry of Medina Spirit, but probably under Baffert's assistant trainer. It may be that the powers that be at Pimlico will feel obliged to honor the suspension by Churchill of Baffert, but the horse didn't have any part in this except to be the recipient of the drug, so no reason to punish him.

As for whether Baffert actually did this or not, he had the positive with Justify and two in Arkansas and now this. I thought he was lucky to get away with the Arkansas positives, but the Arkansas Racing commission over ruled Oaklawn because of some mix-up in the chain of custody for the samples that tested positive for the offending drugs. I grant you though, you would have to have brass cajones to think you were going to get away with this sort of thing in what is the most important horse race on dirt in America.