Medina Spirit

The name of the book recently released by Simon & Schuster is "Death of a Racehorse," which might lead one to believe that author and CNN Reporter Katie Bo Lillis is the latest to jump on the anti-racing bandwagon. That is not the case. This is a book that truly can't be judged by its macabre cover or title. It's not that Lillis is a cheerleader for racing. A graduate of the Godolphin Flying Start program, she clearly understands the sport and seems pained by what ails it--breakdowns, overuse of...

After reading "Enough Already. It's Time to Fix the Triple Crown" by Bill Finley, I must say I find myself not only disappointed by Mr. Finley's attitude, but also shocked by how he misconstrues and ignores the facts. In 2019, Bill Mott was planning to run Country House in the Preakness. Mott actually said, "We're leaning toward the Preakness, since he is the Derby winner and we don't want to pooh-pooh the Triple Crown. We want to support that." But two days later, Country House was coughing, placed on antibiotics,...

According to a posting on the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) website, trainer Todd Pletcher has had a horse test positive for the controlled medication betamethasone. The infraction occurred with the horse Vassimo (Nyquist), who tested positive after breaking his maiden on Dec. 14 at Gulfstream. He subsequently came back and won an allowance at Tampa Bay Downs and is entered to run in Saturday's GII Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds. The positive will not affect his status for the Fair Grounds race. Betamethasone, a long-acting corticosteroid with...

The federal court in the Western District of Kentucky Friday dismissed a class action lawsuit brought by a group of gamblers against trainer Bob Baffert over Medina Spirit's win and subsequent disqualification in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Paid off to the public as the race-day winner, Medina Spirit lost the Derby due to a failed post-race drug test. He tested positive for betamethasone, a controlled medication banned on race-day. Mandaloun, who had passed the post second, was promoted to first. The plaintiffs, spearheaded by professional gambler Michael Beychok, argued that...

The suspension of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert from racetracks owned and operated by Churchill Downs Incorporated has been rescinded, effective immediately, CDI announced Friday evening. The decision was detailed in a statement from CDI CEO Bill Carstanjen: "We are satisfied that Mr. Baffert has taken responsibility for his actions, completed a substantial penalty and is committed to running in full compliance with the rules and regulations going forward. All parties agree that it is time to bring this chapter to a close and focus on the future. Mr....

The Kentucky judge overseeing the lawsuit initiated by Amr Zedan's incorporated racing stable against Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) to try and get Bob Baffert-trained horses unbarred from the GI Kentucky Derby told both parties Wednesday he now has a clearer understanding of a relatively new "meritless lawsuit" law to be able to issue a written opinion by the end of the week. That opinion is unlikely to decide the Apr. 3 civil lawsuit in full, but it is expected to address Zedan's motion for an injunction that could pave the...

The lawsuit filed by Amr Zedan's incorporated racing stable to try and get Bob Baffert-trained horses un-barred from the GI Kentucky Derby could get decided by the end of this week according to several published news reports in the wake of a Monday hearing in Kentucky's Jefferson Circuit Court. Ron Flatter of Horse Racing Nation reported that the judge in Zedan's lawsuit against Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) was "prepared to rule" on Zedan's motion for an injunction and/or on CDI's motion to dismiss the case entirely, but wanted to wait...

Stable Recovery will hold its second annual Spring Meet Gala Saturday at Fasig-Tipton's Newtown Paddocks in Lexington. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. with a mocktail hour and will offer men in the substance abuse recovery program the chance to share their transformative stories. The evening will also include numerous items in live and silent auctions, including a Knicks Go package, a Not This Time halter, horseshoes from Medina Spirit and Arabian Knight, and a California Chrome saddle towel. Bidding on silent auction items begins Wednesday. For more information,...

Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI) filed a motion Apr. 8 to dismiss a lawsuit by Zedan Racing Stables, Inc., that seeks to lift a CDI-imposed ban against horses trained by Bob Baffert in the GI Kentucky Derby. Jason Frakes of the Louisville Courier Journal was among the first to report on the motion, which was filed in Kentucky the same morning as a Jefferson County Circuit Court hearing was held on the matter. That Monday hearing put off until at least Apr. 15 a decision on owner Amr Zedan's request for...

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Owner Amr Zedan filed suit Wednesday in Louisville seeking a temporary injunction that would allow his horses and all others trained by Bob Baffert to run in the GI Kentucky Derby and all other Derby-week races. Baffert is not a party to the lawsuit. Zedan owns the GI Arkansas Derby winner Muth (Good Magic), who would be among the Derby favorites if allowed to race. After Medina Spirit (Protonico) tested positive for betamethasone in the 2021 Derby Baffert was banned by...

Brad Cox won four stakes races over the weekend, including the GII Louisiana Derby and the GII Fair Grounds Oaks. But such a run of success has almost come to be expected from a trainer who never seems to have a bad week. Cox will arrive at Churchill Downs with an army of stakes-caliber horses, including threats for the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Kentucky Oaks. The multiple Eclipse Award winning conditioner was our special guest on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. He was this...

Trainer Bob Baffert took to X late Monday afternoon to report that he has told his legal team to drop the appeal to the result of the 2021 GI Kentucky Derby, from which Zedan Racing Stable's Medina Spirit (Protonico) was disqualified for a betamethasone positive. The post read: "I have instructed my attorneys to dismiss the appeal related to the disqualification of Medina Spirit in the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Zedan Racing owner, Amr Zedan, and I have decided that it is best to positively focus on the present and future...