Racehorse trainer
Medina Spirit had tested positive for 21 picograms the steroid betamethasone - a drug typically given to horses to treat joints - in violation of race day rules. It is legal in Kentucky as a therapeutic, but testing positive on a race day is a violation.
In a statement from his lawyer to ESPN and other media publications, Baffert said Medina Spirit had been treated for dermatitis ahead of the race, which he believes may have led to the positive drug test.
"Yesterday, I was informed that one of the substances in [the ointment] Otomax is betamethasone. While we do not know definitively that this was the source of the alleged 21 picograms found in Medina Spirit's post-race blood sample, and our investigation is continuing, I have been told by equine pharmacology experts that this could explain the test results," Baffert said in the statement.
Baffert had previously railed against criticism of the horse, saying Medina Spirit was a victim of "cancel culture," during an appearance on Fox
-Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) May 10, 2021
"I was totally shocked when I heard this news," Baffert said at the Sunday news conference. "I am the most scrutinized trainer. And I am OK with that. The last thing I want to do is something that would jeopardize the greatest sport. I'm worried about the sport. This is a pretty serious accusation. We're going to get to the bottom of it. We didn't do it ... There's problems in racing. But it's not Bob Baffert."
Medina Spirit is the fifth of Baffert's horses to fail a drug test dating back to 2019. Illegal doses of betamethasone was also found in Baffert's horse Gamine, who finished third in last fall's Kentucky Oaks before being disqualified after a test. Baffert was fined $1,500.
Medina Spirit is currently headed to Baltimore, Maryland as he's schedule to race in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday despite the ongoing investigation.
Baffert's lawyer, W. Craig Robertson III, told Gary B. Braves of The Associated Press that he's prepared to file for a temporary restraining order to prevent Preakness officials from denying Medina Spirit's participation in the race. However, Baffert himself will not be in attendance as he doesn't want to be a distraction.
"I want him to run a good race because now everybody's piling on him," Baffert told Braves. "It's probably more pressure now that he's got to run well."