Zedan Racing Stables Removed From Bettors' Lawsuit
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Amr Zedan holds the Kentucky Derby trophy at Churchill Downs
Owner Zedan Racing Stables has been voluntarily dismissed from a class action lawsuit filed in California by a group of horseplayers related to Medina Spirit 's failed drug tests following his first-place finish in the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert remains a defendant in the lawsuit, in which plaintiffs claim they lost potential winnings as a result of "the illegal, drug-induced win by Medina Spirit." Post-race tests showed the presence of the corticosteroid betamethasone, a violation that could lead to the colt's disqualification following a formal hearing. Baffert claims the drug came into the horse's system from the application of a cream meant to treat the 3-year-old for a rash.
ANGST: Horseplayers File Lawsuit Against Baffert, Zedan
Unlike disqualifications made by stewards for interference, disqualifications from drug violations do not result in altered payoffs. These disqualifications typically occur weeks, often months, after races are complete.
The dismissal of Zedan Racing Stables, filed June 23, follows another dismissal from the suit—that of plaintiff Michael Meegan, who left the case last month, shortly after it was filed. Michael Beychok, Justin Wunderler, and Keith Mauer remain as plaintiffs.
Beychok captured the 2012 National Handicapping Championship.
A class action suit was also filed in May against Baffert and Churchill Downs Inc. in Kentucky by Anthony Mattera. That case alleges CDI is at fault for lacking pre-race testing.