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Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit collapsed and died after a exercise Monday at Santa Anita.
The 3-calendar year-outdated colt skilled by Bob Baffert had just done 5 furlongs in his 2nd exercise routine considering that finishing 2nd in the Breeders’ Cup Basic a thirty day period ago at Del Mar, according to Craig Robertson, Baffert’s lawyer. Baffert stated in a statement that the horse endured a coronary heart assault.
“My full barn is devastated by this information,” Baffert explained. “Medina Spirit was a fantastic winner, a member of our family who was cherished by all, and we are deeply mourning his loss. I will generally cherish the proud and own memories of Medina Spirit and his great spirit.”
Santa Anita produced a statement indicating the track veterinary group took blood, hair and urine samples from Medina Spirit and sent them to the California Horse Racing Board. The colt will undertake a total necropsy, as required by the racing board, to consider to establish the correct cause of death.
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Medina Spirit examined beneficial immediately after the May 1 Kentucky Derby for betamethasone, a authorized treatment that is not allowed on race day. It was Baffert’s record seventh win in the Derby. In the wake of Medina Spirit’s unsuccessful test, Baffert was suspended by Churchill Downs and barred from coming into horses in the 2022 and 2023 Kentucky Derbies. He also was banned by the New York Racing Affiliation from coming into horses at its Belmont, Saratoga and Aqueduct tracks.
On Friday, Robertson unveiled a assertion saying that checks completed by a New York lab have “surely verified” Medina Spirit tested beneficial for the steroid — not via an injection but owing to an ointment utilised to treat a pores and skin rash.
The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has been investigating the case, and has nonetheless to hold a hearing that could maybe disqualify Medina Spirit.
In the $6 million BC Traditional, Medina Spirit couldn’t muster the needed late kick to threaten winner Knicks Go.
“I’m quite proud of him. He ran a fantastic race,” Baffert said very last thirty day period. “To me, he is the finest 3-12 months-old. He confirmed it nowadays. That’s what racing is all about, proving it on the racetrack. And he proved it currently that he’s the actual offer.”
Baffert was authorized to enter horses in the season-ending entire world championships, but the event’s cash-major trainer had to meet up with specified conditions, which include stricter out-of-opposition tests of his horses and bigger safety at his barn. He agreed to the more scrutiny and was required to fork out for it out of his have pocket.
Medina Spirit experienced 5 wins in 10 vocation commences and earnings of $3,545,200, according to Equibase. The colt was owned by Amr Zedan, who competes as Zedan Racing Stables.
“Our most honest condolences go out to Mr. Amr Zedan and the overall Zedan Racing Stables relatives,” Baffert said in his assertion Monday. “They are in our ideas and prayers as we go through this challenging time.”
