Justify Officially Disqualified From Santa Anita Derby

A March 30 ruling by California stewards officially disqualified Justify   from his first-place finish in the 2018 Santa Anita Derby (G1).

The action followed a successful lawsuit filed by Mick Ruis, owner of original runner-up Bolt d'Oro  , and a subsequent settlement in which the California Horse Racing Board agreed to waive appeal of the court ruling, order a redistribution of purse money, and pay Ruis $300,000.

The stewards' ruling leads off with a reference to the Ruis lawsuit, stating the disqualification is "issued pursuant to an order from the Superior Court of the State of California." The court ruling held that a positive test for scopolamine required disqualification under racing regulations.

Downey: Agreement Specifies CHRB to Order Justify DQ, Pay Ruis $300,000

The resulting revised order of finish places Bolt d'Oro first, followed by Core Beliefs  , Instilled Regard  , Pepe Tono , Orbit Rain , and Jimmy Chila . All monies paid to owners China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm ($585,000), along with jockey Mike Smith and trainer Bob Baffert ($58,450 each), were ordered returned to the paymaster of purses at Santa Anita by April 29 for redistribution.

As required by CHRB Rule #1956, pari-mutuel payoffs are not affected, stewards wrote.

Justify went on to win the Triple Crown, achievements unaffected by the ruling, though he is no longer officially unbeaten in six starts. As of 6 p.m. ET Saturday, Equibase had not yet updated his career record and earnings.

In his first year of eligibility, he is a candidate for the Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Racing in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Ballots have been distributed, and the deadline for voters' submissions is mid-April. Justify is now a highly successful stallion standing at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.

Although not addressed by the stewards' order, Justify's owners presumably retain the right to appeal it.