Split Sample Confirms Medina Spirit Drug Positive

The post-race positive of Zedan Racing Stables' Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Medina Spirit  for the corticosteroid betamethasone has been confirmed by a second test requested by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert.

The New York Times first reported the news June 2, which BloodHorse confirmed with Baffert's attorney, W. Craig Robertson III.

"In response to the inquiries, this will acknowledge that the Medina Spirit split sample confirmed the finding of betamethasone at 25 picograms," Robertson said via email Wednesday morning. "There is other testing that is being conducted, including DNA testing. We expect this additional testing to confirm that the presence of the betamethasone was from the topical ointment, Otomax, and not an injection."

According to the Times, attorney Clark Brewster—who represents owner Amr Zedan—said the laboratory at the University of California, Davis conducted testing on the split sample.

In a text message, however, Brewster told the Times that the laboratory did not test the blood or urine samples for the presence of other compounds, "which could prove the trace positive came from an inadvertent and materially inconsequential contamination sourced from a topical ointment used to treat Medina Spirit for a skin lesion on his hip." The Times report said the original sample will be used for those purposes.

Calls to Brewster by BloodHorse Wednesday morning were not immediately returned.

The initial post-race test conducted by Industrial Laboratories for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission revealed that Medina Spirit was positive for 21 picograms of betamethasone per milliliter of blood or plasma, a fact Baffert revealed May 9 in a press conference at Churchill Downs.

A corticosteroid, betamethasone is a Class C drug that is allowed in Kentucky as a therapeutic. However, state rules call for at least a 14-day withdrawal time. Any level of detection on race day is a violation. Recommended sanctions include disqualification of the horse.

Because the split sample confirms that betamethasone was in the horse's system on race day, a violation of the rules occurred. But the connections hope mitigating circumstances are considered in terms of sanctions as they believe further testing will show the Otomax as the source of the betamethasone.

"At the end of the day, we anticipate this case to be about the treatment of Medina Spirit's skin rash with Otomax," Robertson said. "We will have nothing further to say until the additional testing is complete." 

Racing regulations in the United States hold trainers responsible for the condition of their horse under the "absolute insurer" rule, although mitigating circumstances may be considered by stewards in many states. 

Following the confirmation of the overage, the stewards will schedule a hearing. Chief state steward Barbara Borden could not immediately be reached for comment regarding the likely timeframe for scheduling of that hearing.

In an email, KHRC spokeswoman Sherelle Roberts declined to comment on the results of the second sample because the investigation continues.

"The KHRC does not provide comment or updates on the status of ongoing investigations," she said. "The KHRC values fairness and transparency, and will provide information to the media and public at the close of an investigation."

Should the stewards disqualify Medina Spirit from his Kentucky Derby victory, Juddmonte homebred Mandaloun , who reached the wire second, would be elevated to victory for trainer Brad Cox, with third-place Hot Rod Charlie  moved to second. Essential Quality , also trained by Cox, would be moved up from fourth to third.

"I don't feel like I won a race, I can tell you that," Cox said Wednesday morning. "I'll accept the trophy and the money but it certainly doesn't feel like you won a race. It's not how you want to win a race. I'm proud of both horses, but at the end of the day, it's not how you want to win a race.

"Hopefully, some good comes out of this, and we don't ever have to do this again. It's not good for the sport. Maybe there's something we can learn from this such as pre-race testing instead of post-race testing for a race of this magnitude."

Medina Spirit would become just the second horse in 147 editions of the Kentucky Derby to be disqualified for a drug positive. The first was Dancer's Image, who was disqualified from his 1968 victory after testing positive for the prohibited anti-inflammatory medication phenylbutazone.