Failed the drug test.  It will be interesting to see how this plays out.   Common sense would dictate Baffert wants no part of a mistake that would cost him his status in the industry, and this would do it.  As a trainer you gain your fame with winning horses and the owners of good horses send their horses to your stable.  Huge deterrent if you cheat.

Not like this his first bad test. Let the legal wrangling begin.

I wonder if not being allowed to use lasix in this years derby affected the withdrawal times of common meds, the amount they found was not very significant even if it was double the permitted level.  I feel bad for the connections of Medina Spirit, the new corticosteroid rules are pretty hard to work around.

Did they pull the same samples from the second and third place horses?  Do they get tested if they are moved up in the winners order?  How does setting time affect the samples..... i have so many questions.

Question:  Do the horses get tested BEFORE the race?

I think thats a good question about the Lasix. I know nothing about the Horse Racing world, but I feel really bad for the Jockey, Medina Spirt and the owners/owner of Medina Spirt, this horse worked really hard for that #1 Spot.

https://pastthewire.com/the-lab-used-for-the-kentucky-oaks-and-derby-testing-had-their-churchill-downs-contract-terminated-before-the-races-but-were-still-used/

In this case the question is mute because Baffert says he was never treated with betamethasone

Baffert's horses have failed drug tests FIVE times in the last year....Arkansas suspended him but then later walked it back and just fined him .... He is NOT an amateur at using drugs! 

Evidently even if the horse had been treated weeks ago it could still show up in his system in a tiny quantity.  It's an anti-inflammatory.  I don't see the problem but the battle ain't over til it's over.  Baffert feels he still has a good chance of beating it.  I'm sure he has a lot of employees including assistant trainers who make decisions on their own.  An injection could have happened without him knowing it. 

Also Betamethasone is legal at Churchill Downs but only if you declare usage 14 days before the race.  Baffert was on FOX this morning and was a well of information.

This is a fair/good read. 

https://pastthewire.com/things-can-happen-fast-in-horse-racing-when-they-involve-bob-baffert-and-not-always-on-the-racetrack/?fbclid=IwAR3kTsQIuaDhOhQGWM0gHlKdbfff0mUKqQyIoHL-KLQevzMgwLfybN7HKnU

Another good/fair read.

https://pastthewire.com/the-lab-used-for-the-kentucky-oaks-and-derby-testing-had-their-churchill-downs-contract-terminated-before-the-races-but-were-still-used/?fbclid=IwAR238r1r8n4rCkd2B8UHMfKjpdHSJZEZXK2VFZqyzpoBbdBFknmvkbAIx80

Your right fatchance.... that was a very informative read.

https://www.drf.com/news/medina-spirit-was-treated-ointment-containing-betamethasone-derby

Not confirmed but it looks like the horse was treated with an antifungal cream containing Betamethasone.

And there lies the problem with drug testing if there is not a completely controlled environment - that was always a concern at the NFR because someone could just walk by and swipe a horse with an ointment containing a "controlled substance" (benzocain was always one that people mentioned) and it would be too late once it was discovered.

Medina Spirit gets to run in the Preakness this weekend.  Good to hear.

Baffert at first blamed cross contamination with the theory that a groom was taking cold medicine, maybe urinated on the hay and the horse ingested it. Because the horse had never been given any bethamethasone.

Then he admitted that it came to his attention that they had been using Otomax on the horse for dermatitis prior to and on Derby day. Right there on the label, plain as day it says betamethasone. The withdrawal period prior to a race for betamethasone is 14 days. Baffert had been in trouble for bethamethasone back in September. That medication should have been high on his drug radar. 
 
No groom just does something to a horse without being told to and handed the medication. The responsibility of ALL horses lays entirely on the shoulders of the trainer and the help HE hires.

Claiming ignorance when you have been training for decades just doesn't fly. Did Baffert willing cheat? Doubful. Was it an honest mistake? More than likely yes. Does that mean he's innocent? No. Drug rules are there for a reason. He knew the microscope racing is under. Being the head trainer, he should have been going over every med going on or in those Derby horses in particular with a fine tooth comb.

Thats so great to hear, will he still be under Bob Baffert? 

Medina Spirit will have all eyes on him for sure.

I watched Bob Baffert being interview on Fox News and when he said the hay must have been urinated on by a groon taking meds for a cold  and Medina Spirit ate that hay and then his story changed to giving the horse Otomax for Dermatitis. 

My horses are so picky about hay, I cant see a horse eating hay thats been urinated on by human or any other type of animal, pee stinks to high heaven. Right there that was a red flag to me with that statement Baffert made.. I'm really sad that he made up these stories. 

Even Bill Hemmer on Fox knew something was up.