Medina Spirit trainer says anti-fungal cream contained banned substance
Hall of Fame horse trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday that the anti-fungal ointment he used to treat Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit contained the banned substance betamethasone.
Bob Baffert releases new statement in which he says, “Oops, I guess I did do it” pic.twitter.com/Yn30EolMjQ
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) May 11, 2021
Baffert said Medina Spirit developed dermatitis on its hind end after the Santa Anita Derby and that he gave the horse a veterinarian-recommended ointment called Otamax once a day leading up to the Kentucky Derby.
Medina Spirit had 21 picograms of betamethasone in its system after the Kentucky Derby, which is twice the limit permitted by Kentucky horse racing regulations.
Baffert said his team doesn't definitively know whether the Otamax was the source of the positive test.
On Monday, Baffert denied injecting any banned substance into Medina Spirit's system and blamed "cancel culture" after Churchill Downs suspended him amid the investigation.
If the Kentucky Derby disqualifies Medina Spirit, Mandaloun will be crowned the champion.
Baffert-trained horses have failed drug tests 30 times in his four-decade career.