Bargain Buy Medina Spirit Pays Off for Zedan

Owner Amr Zedan of Zedan Racing Stables has spent millions on 2-year-olds at public auction, but it is a modest $35,000 buy that has taken him to the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 3 at Santa Anita Park.

Bloodstock agent Gary Young purchased Medina Spirit, a son of Protonico  , for Zedan last year at the Ocala Breeders' Sales' 2020 sale of July 2-Year-Olds & Horses of Racing Age from the Whitman Sales consignment. Medina Spirit is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the Santa Anita Derby, a top qualifier for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

To date, the Bob Baffert trainee has earned nearly five times his purchase price and can pad his earnings further in Saturday's $750,000 race, offering $450,000 to the winner.

Young, Baffert, and others on the Zedan Racing Stables team are just back from The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select 2-year-olds-in-training auction, in South Florida, where these same connections teamed to buy a Gun Runner   colt for $1.7 million.

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A clocker since he was 18 and an agent for more than 30 years, the 59-year-old Young acknowledges Medina Spirit is likely to face speed both inside and outside in Saturday's race, which is likely to have a field of nine with the expected scratch of Roman Centurian .

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Medina Spirit comes off a distant second-place finish behind the now-sidelined Life Is Good  in the San Felipe Stakes (G2). It was discovered after the San Felipe that Medina Spirit had suffered a slightly entrapped epiglottis, necessitating minor throat surgery.

"In many ways it might look like he was a well-beaten second but when you consider he entrapped in that race," Young said. "We're not saying he would have beaten Life Is Good, but I think it was a pretty gallant effort to run second under those conditions."

 According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, an entrapped epiglottis is "a condition in which the thin membrane lying below the epiglottis moves up and covers the epiglottis. The abnormality may obstruct breathing."

Added Young: "We respect the competition, but if he's getting his air better this time, it's got to be a plus.

"I think I speak for Bob and Mr. Zedan when I say he's going to be pretty tough in this race."

Medina Spirit's only losses in four starts have come when chasing Life Is Good. The former was also runner-up to that speedy rival in the Sham Stakes (G3).

Medina Spirit also won a maiden race and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), defeating, among others, Hot Rod Charlie , the eventual winner of the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2). Roman Centurian finished second, between Medina Spirit and Hot Rod Charlie, in that race.