After more than nine months of delay, litigation and laboratory tests, the 2021 Kentucky Derby finally reached at least a temporary resolution Monday when stewards disqualified Medina Spirit and suspended the deceased colt's Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert, for 90 days.
The disqualification had seemed inevitable to racing officials because Kentucky racing regulations allow no detectable betamethasone in a horse’s system on race day. But Baffert's attorneys argued the ban applied only to injectable betamethasone; that Medina Spirit had absorbed the corticosteroid through the ointment Otomax; and that the concentration was insufficient to have any impact on America's most prestigious horse race. Their argument did not prove persuasive. Seven days after a Feb. 14 hearing, the three stewards adjudicating the case -- Barbara Borden, Brooks Becraft and Tyler Picklesimer -- issued rulings disqualifying Medina Spirit, ordering the Derby purse to be redistributed and fining Baffert $7,500 in addition to his 90-day suspension.
Churchill Downs issued a statement recognizing Mandaloun as the Derby winner and congratulating Cox, owner Juddmonte and jockey Florent Geroux.
The disqualification had seemed inevitable to racing officials because Kentucky racing regulations allow no detectable betamethasone in a horse’s system on race day. But Baffert's attorneys argued the ban applied only to injectable betamethasone; that Medina Spirit had absorbed the corticosteroid through the ointment Otomax; and that the concentration was insufficient to have any impact on America's most prestigious horse race. Their argument did not prove persuasive. Seven days after a Feb. 14 hearing, the three stewards adjudicating the case -- Barbara Borden, Brooks Becraft and Tyler Picklesimer -- issued rulings disqualifying Medina Spirit, ordering the Derby purse to be redistributed and fining Baffert $7,500 in addition to his 90-day suspension.
Runner-up Mandaloun on track to become Kentucky Derby winner
Pending that appeal, which Brewster said has already been filed, runner-up Mandalounstands to become the winner of Derby 147 and further enhance the resume and the net worth of Louisville trainer Brad Cox, who had already set a North American earnings record in 2021 with $31 million in purses. The Derby winner's purse is worth $1.86 million. Cox would also benefit from fourth-place finisher Essential Quality being moved up to third place behind trainer Doug O'Neill's Hot Rod Charlie.Churchill Downs issued a statement recognizing Mandaloun as the Derby winner and congratulating Cox, owner Juddmonte and jockey Florent Geroux.
