Bob Baffert, Medina Spirit suspended from Belmont Stakes: ‘In the best interests’ of horse racing

The New York Racing Association stated on Monday that it’s suspending trainer Bob Baffert from entering or stalling any horses at its tracks.

That means Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit won’t be permitted to run at the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown. The NYRA announced its decision as Derby host Churchill Downs awaits the results of a second drug test after Medina Spirit tested positive for banned steroid betamethasone.

Baffert originally denied that he used betamethasone improperly on Medina Spirit, blaming “cancel culture” and floating a theory that the horse ate hay tainted by human urine instead. Baffert admitted days later that he treated Medina Spirit with an ointment containing betamethasone daily leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

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The use of betamathasone, which is considered a performance enhancer, is prohibited in the 14 days leading up to a race.

If Medina Spirit’s second sample called a split sample confirms the positive test, Churchill Downs will revoke the horse’s Kentucky Derby triumph and declare second-place horse Mandaloun the winner instead. The result of that test could still be several weeks away.

Baffert has trained seven Kentucky Derby-winning horses including Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify. He also has a lengthy history of medical violations, with 29 reported failed drug tests on his training resume. The NYRA cited that history in its decision to suspend Baffert.

Baffert’s suspension is temporary as the NYRA awaits the results of Medina Spirit’s split sample test.

Medina Spirit entered Saturday’s Preakness Stakes as the favorite following multiple negative drug tests leading up to the race. The horse finished in third place behind winner Rombauer. Another of Baffert’s horse’s, Concert Tour, also competed at the Preakness after passing rigorous pre-race testing.

Neither will be permitted to compete at Belmont Park or the NYRA’s other tracks Saratoga Race Course and Aqueduct Racetrack. Neither will any of Baffert’s other horses. While the most prominent, the Belmont Stakes is one of several high-stakes races at NYRA tracks that Baffert and the horses he trains are banned from.

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