New Lasix Rule Impacts 2021 Road to the Kentucky Derby

When Senor Buscador won the Remington Springboard Mile Stakes Dec. 18, the now 3-year-old put himself on the path to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). But he didn't get any Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the victory.

That's because in the Remington Springboard Mile the Joe Peacock Jr.-owned son of Mineshaft  raced on furosemide (Lasix), which under a rules change will be banned for the 2021 Kentucky Derby. In support of that change for the Derby, Churchill Downs decided that no qualifying points would be awarded in the current Road to the Kentucky Derby prep series for any horse that competes on race-day furosemide, which is used to prevent or reduce the severity of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage.

Under those standards, the Remington Springboard Mile was scheduled to award 10 qualifying points to the winner, but since he raced on Lasix, Senor Buscador did not receive any points. Trainer Todd Fincher said the connections "were fully aware" that in receiving Lasix, Senor Buscador would not be eligible for Derby qualifying points from the Remington Park race.

"Hopefully, it won't come back and bite us," Fincher said.

The decision to run on furosemide was, Fincher said, in the interest of his horse—a lightly raced maiden sprint winner stretching out to a mile in his second start. He believes it was the right call, even if it meant no points. The decision to use the medication was "100% a precautionary measure for the safety of the horse," he said.

Second-place finisher Cowan earned four points, while Senor Buscador, third-place Red N Wild, and fourth-place Saffa's Day all received no points because of the new Lasix rule. Eight of the race's 10 starters competed on Lasix.

Churchill spokesman Darren Rogers noted that the track's parent company, Louisville-based Churchill Downs Inc., is one of the founders of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition and "we support sweeping medication reforms that will enhance the safety and integrity of horse racing."

The Derby rule changes are consistent with those goals, he said.

"We feel the time is now to have one, unified medication policy across major U.S. racing jurisdictions and fall in line with International Federation of Horseracing Authorities standards around the rest of the world," Rogers said. "Lasix has been a lightning rod topic where responsible people on both sides of the issue simply disagree about whether its continued use should be allowed.

"We view the use of Lasix on race day as an integrity issue and continue to support efforts to phase it out in races for 2-year-olds and all stakes races, including the Kentucky Derby."

The change applies as well to the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, although to date no filly has been denied points because of racing on furosemide. Many major tracks did not allow furosemide in races for 2-year-olds last year and will expand that prohibition to stakes races this year. The three Triple Crown races will not allow Lasix.

The Derby is limited to 20 starters, and Churchill has used the points system since the 2013 race to determine the field if there are more entries than available spots. Eighteen spots are determined from the main points system, with two spots reserved for horses from each of the Derby's European and Japan prep series, if they choose to participate. If no European- or Japan-based horse is entered, the main points list is used for those starting spots as well.

Excluding last year's Derby that was delayed until September, and, consequently, had an extended series of preps, an average of 26 points has been needed to get in the Derby field. The Oaks field is limited to 14 fillies using its Road series of preps.

Fincher said Senor Buscador won't race with furosemide again ahead of the Derby. The plan is for two races to try to accumulate enough qualifying points, beginning with either the listed Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 22 at Oaklawn Park or the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) Feb. 13 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

"Hopefully, it'll happen," Fincher said.

Fincher believes the absence of furosemide will lead to some horses bleeding unnecessarily this year, but he supports the new policy since "everybody's on the same playing field."

Senor Buscador's last-to-first 5 3/4-length Springboard Mile win was impressive enough to give his connections Derby fever.

"Obviously, it has our hopes up," Fincher said of the Peacock homebred. The trainer said he's aware of the Derby trail's hurdles, but knows his colt is one of the few from his crop that has a chance.

"Very few do," Fincher said.

Also for 2021, there's another updated rule in the points series related to medication. This year, if a horse's connections are notified by a regulator of a medication positive that would result in a disqualification, the horse will not be rewarded points. This standard will be in place even before a horse is formally disqualified or while the incident is being appealed. If the case is resolved before the Oaks or Derby and the horse is not disqualified, points would be reinstated.

Medication questions have been an issue in recent years. Points for one division of last year's Arkansas Derby (G1) were redistributed after the medication-related disqualification of first-place finisher Charlatan, who would miss the Derby because of injury.

Rogers said it's an issue of safety and integrity.

"Churchill Downs is fully committed to the safety of our human and equine athletes and the integrity of our sport," Rogers said. "We have long advocated for strict regulations with respect to the use of medications to safeguard that competitors are fit to race, and the races are conducted fairly and with transparency. We believe the implementation of this rule will confirm the integrity of all participants in America's greatest race."