Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit fails second drug test

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit’s positive post-race drug test has been confirmed, setting the stage for the horse to be disqualified from the race, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.  

A lawyer for Medina Spirit’s owner, Amr Zedan, told the Times that the horse tested positive for betamethasone, a steroid, in the second test sample. 

Trainer Bob Baffert’s attorney, W. Craig Robertson, said in a statement they have confirmed the horse tested positive and will wait for additional testing to occur, saying the horse was being treated for a sustained injury.   

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

ESPN reports that second-place Derby finisher Mandaloun is now poised to be declared the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner.

Medina Spirit tested positive for the drug on May 9 after winning the race, with Baffert in part blaming “cancel culture” for the scandal.

Baffert was later suspended by the New York Racing Association over the positive drug test.

Medina Spirit could be the second horse in the Kentucky Derby’s history to be disqualified from the race after failing a drug test.

Zedan would have to forfeit a $1.8 million first-place check, according to the Times report.