Medina Spirit, the horse that was disqualified for failed drug assessments after successful this 12 months’s Kentucky Derby, has died after a routine coaching run in Southern California.
The colt collapsed on Monday after operating 5 furlongs (1,006 meters) at Santa Anita Park, east of Los Angeles, in keeping with a press release by coach Bob Baffert. Medina Spirit had already died by the point a veterinarian reached him on the monitor. Santa Anita mentioned the doubtless explanation for dying was a coronary heart assault.
Blood, hair and urine samples have been instantly taken and despatched to the California Horse Racing Board. Outcomes of a full necropsy and toxicology research can be launched by the board, Santa Anita mentioned.
“All I can say is that he gave us the trip of our lives and introduced everybody collectively. We’re mourning this loss, Bob [Baffert], myself, our staff and Johnny [Velazquez], as nicely. We’re all very unhappy.” – Amr Zedan https://t.co/wt7Xzg5mjR
— TDN (@theTDN) December 6, 2021
“All I can say is that he gave us the trip of our lives and introduced everybody collectively,” mentioned Amr Zedan, the colt’s proprietor. “We’re mourning this loss, Bob, myself, our staff and [jockey] Johnny [Velasquez] as nicely. We’re all very unhappy.”
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Medina Spirit received the Kentucky Derby, America’s most prestigious horse race, final Could regardless of being a 15-1 longshot. However he examined constructive for betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory steroid, and was later stripped of his title and $ 1.eight million prize. Baffert was suspended for 2 years at Churchill Downs, the Kentucky Derby venue.
However the disqualification remained in dispute simply days earlier than Medina Spirit’s dying. Attorneys for Baffert and Zedan mentioned final week current lab take a look at confirmed that the betamethasone in Medina Spirit’s system got here from a topical injection, not from the acetate type. Such an ointment, which can be utilized to deal with a pores and skin lesion, isn’t prohibited on the Kentucky Derby.
“Zedan is proud to have stood by Bob and is ecstatic that Medina Spirit will obtain the glory of his nice victory,” lawyer Clark Brewster mentioned on Friday. Because it seems, if Medina Spirit’s title is ever cleared by racing officers, it should be carried out posthumously.
BREAKING: Assertion from Clark O. Brewster, lawyer for Zedan Racing Stables concerning take a look at outcomes for #KyDerby winner #MedinaSpirit pic.twitter.com/76NUis3zah
— Zedan Racing Stables, Inc (@ZedanRacing) December three, 2021
