CHRB Review Finds No Violations in Medina Spirit Death

The California Horse Racing Board said Feb. 24 that veterinarians, a safety steward, and a steward did not identify any potential rule violations after reviewing the necropsy, toxicology report, racing and training history, and veterinary history of Medina Spirit .

"Based on the forensic examination and the postmortem review on Medina Spirit, the CHRB did not identify any potential CHRB violations that require further investigation," participants in the postmortem examination review concluded Thursday.

Medina Spirit collapsed and died Dec. 6 after a workout at Santa Anita Park. A necropsy report released Feb. 11 could not precisely determine a reason for the sudden death, although it suggested acute heart failure without confirmation. Necropsies and postmortem examination reviews are standard for every equine fatality that occurs at a CHRB-regulated facility. The California Animal Health and Food Safety diagnostic laboratory system of the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine are undertaking those studies.

The postmortem review was conducted by veterinarian Dr. Alina Vale, safety steward David Neusch, and steward Kim Sawyer. The trio reviewed the necropsy report, medical records, and training records to identify any at-risk factors in preparation. The officials then interviewed trainers, attending veterinarians, and other licensees deemed appropriate.

Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit reached the wire first in the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) May 1 at Churchill Downs. After the Derby he would fail a post-race drug test for betamethasone and after a drawn out process that included further sample testing, Kentucky stewards disqualified him Monday from that Derby win.

The summary report released Thursday by the CHRB noted that the findings on Medina Spirit fall into the same category of about half of its sudden death cases where the definitive cause of death proves elusive. 

The summary does include some details of interest. Baffert's attorneys have blamed the failed post-Derby drug test on the use of Otomax to treat a skin condition. The report notes that Otomax was prescribed April 9 and April 19 to treat, "a skin infection (dermatitis) along the horse's neck, girth area, and hindquarters."

The report noted that Medina Spirit displayed a hind end weakness June 21. A blood titer for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis—a disease that affects a horse's central nervous system—was submitted. On June 25 a full body nuclear scintigraphy exam was performed as a precaution. Based on the EPM test results and clinical observation, Marquis (ponazuril, an EPM treatment) was dispensed July 2.

After Medina Spirit's runner-up finish in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) March 6 at Santa Anita, surgery was performed March 10 to release an entrapped epiglottis. After his runner-up finish in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1), he was placed on the CHRB vet's list for tarsal (hock) joint injections with hyaluronic acid and Vetalog (triamcinolone).

In a racing and training summary, the report notes that Medina Spirit had been scheduled to work Dec. 5 but that move was postponed a day when the track was closed for workouts because of heavy fog.