BOB BAFFERT

Medina Spirit, who finished first in the controversial 2021 Kentucky Derby, died Monday after a workout at Santa Anita.

An attorney said the incident happened at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

The 3-year-old colt whose Kentucky Derby victory in May came under scrutiny because of a positive drug test has collapsed and died after a workout at Santa Anita in Southern California.

An attorney for trainer Bob Baffert says split-sample urine testing of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit has shown that a steroid present in the colt’s system came from a topical ointment and not an injection.

Knicks Go set the early pace and kicked away to a 2 3/4-length victory in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.

Corniche won the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by 1 3/4 length at Del Mar, stamping the colt as the early favorite for next year’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, where his trainer, Bob Baffert, has been banned.

The Breeders' Cup Classic features a loaded field with impressive resumes.

California Angel has already beaten the odds before she even runs in the Breeders’ Cup.

Knicks Go is the early 5-2 favorite for the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic this weekend at Del Mar.

Although we may be approaching the end of 2021, there is still one of the more anticipated events of the year including thoroughbred racing

Beck Bennett is departing "Saturday Night Live," but the majority of regular cast members are returning for the show's 47th season.

The New York Racing Association has charged Bob Baffert with detrimental conduct and scheduled a hearing for the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer to respond to those allegations.

The New York Racing Association has charged Bob Baffert with detrimental conduct and scheduled a hearing for the two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer to respond to those allegations.

Belmont States winner Essential Quality won the 152nd running of the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, holding off Midnight Bourbon in a stirring stretch duel.

A New York federal judge has nullified the suspension of horse trainer Bob Baffert, finding that the New York Racing Association acted unconstitutionally by failing to let him adequately respond to claims made against him.

A New York federal judge on Wednesday nullified the suspension of horse trainer Bob Baffert, finding that the New York Racing Association acted unconstitutionally by failing to let him adequately respond to claims made against him after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test. In her written ruling, Brooklyn Judge Carol Bagley Amon said a prompt post-suspension hearing where Baffert could refute the claims was required to meet constitutional muster. Attorney W. Craig Robertson III, who represented Baffert at a Monday hearing before Amon, said the ruling confirms that “following the Kentucky Derby, there was an improper rush to judgment and Mr. Baffert has been treated unfairly.”

A New York federal judge seems sympathetic to horse trainer Bob Baffert's claims that his May suspension by the New York Racing Association was unconstitutional after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test.

A New York judge was sympathetic Monday to horse trainer Bob Baffert’s claims that his May suspension by the New York Racing Association — after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test — was unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Carol Bagley Amon at a Brooklyn hearing repeatedly pressed a lawyer for the racing association to explain why the suspension was issued before Baffert was given a chance to defend himself.

A 3-year-old colt co-owned by the wife of embattled trainer Bob Baffert ran under the name of another Hall of Fame trainer on Saturday, when it finished fourth in the $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational at Belmont Park, where Baffert has been suspended and is suing to regain access. The colt is co-owned by Jill Baffert and Debbie Lanni, a friend of the Bafferts. Baffert was the trainer of record for Du Jour’s last start, a victory in the $500,000 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 1.

Ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez, Gamine broke sharply and took charge nearing the turn to win as the 1-5 favorite in the field of five. On Sunday, Classier held off favored stablemate Defunded by a nose to win the $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby, giving Baffert a 1-2 finish in a race he’s won five years in a row and six of the last seven.

Classier held off favored stablemate Defunded by a nose to win the $150,000 Los Alamitos Derby on Sunday, giving embattled trainer Bob Baffert a 1-2 finish in a race he’s won five years in a row and six of the last seven. Classier broke sharply under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith and dug in when challenged by 3-5 favorite Defunded at Los Alamitos in Orange County. Defunded returned $2.10.

One of last year’s Kentucky Derby favorites before being sidelined by an injury, he’s back in Louisville as the favorite in Saturday’s Grade 1 Stephen Foster Stakes.

Trainer Bob Baffert sued in federal court Tuesday in an effort to get his suspension by the New York Racing Association lifted. The NYRA suspended the Hall of Famer in mid-May after Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a postrace drug test that found 21 picograms of betamethasone. The steroid helps reduce swelling and Baffert acknowledged that Medina Spirit tested positive for the substance that is banned on race day in Kentucky.

The New York Racing Association suspended the Hall of Fame trainer after his horse, Medina Spirit, failed a post-race drug test after winning the Kentucky Derby.

Trainer Bob Baffert and the owners of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit have filed a lawsuit against Kentucky racing officials. Medina Spirit’s Derby victory on May 1 is in jeopardy after a failed postrace drug test revealed 21 picograms of betamethasone in the horse.

The Triple Crown again featured three different winners in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.

There was no chance of a Triple Crown winner this year after Medina Spirit failed to win the Preakness Stakes.

Luis Saez looked up to the sky after winning the Belmont Stakes aboard Essential Quality.

Favorite Essential Quality won the Belmont Stakes to give trainer Brad Cox his first win in a Triple Crown race.

Brad Cox insisted he wasn't sitting around waiting or worrying about whether a disqualification of Bob Baffert's Kentucky Derby winner would give him his first victory in a Triple Crown race. Essential Quality captured the Belmont Stakes on Saturday to make sure Cox wouldn't need to wait a second longer to be a Triple Crown-winning trainer. The striking gray colt who was bet down 6-5 as the favorite passed early leader Hot Rod Charlie around the final turn and charged ahead to the wire to win the 1 1/2-mile $1 million race in front of 11,238 mostly maskless fans at Belmont Park.

There was no chance of a Triple Crown winner this year after Medina Spirit failed to win the Preakness Stakes.

Medina Spirit could soon become the second horse in the Kentucky Derby's history to be disqualified over a failed drug test.

Bob Baffert, trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, stands near the track at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, April 28, 2021. Churchill Downs Racetrack on Wednesday suspended horse trainer Bob Baffert for two years after attorneys said Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit had failed a second drug test for a banned steroid. The suspension means that no horse trained by Baffert or by Bob Baffert Racing Stables can race at any track owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated through the conclusion of the 2023 Spring Meet at Churchill Downs. That meet includes the Kentucky Derby, the first jewel in thoroughbred horse racing's Triple Crown. Please check back for updates.

Bob Baffert’s lawyer said Wednesday that a split-sample test of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit came back positive for the presence of the steroid betamethasone, which could lead to the horse’s disqualification and discipline for the Hall of Fame trainer.

The result could make Medina Spirit the second horse in the competition's 147-year history to be disqualified for drug violations, jeopardizing its victory.

Trainer Bob Baffert has been suspended for two years by Churchill Downs after an additional drug test of Medina Spirit confirmed the presence of the steroid betamethasone in the Kentucky Derby winner's system.

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit's failed drug test was confirmed on Wednesday by a second sample requested by trainer Bob Baffert, the New York Times reports.Why it matters: Medina Spirit could become the second horse in Kentucky Derby history to be disqualified for a failed drug test, the Times notes.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for freeDetails: Clark Brewster, the lawyer who represents the horse's owner, Amr Zedan, told the Tim

A second test of blood from Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit confirmed the presence of the banned steroid betamethasone, a lawyer for the horse's owner said.

Essential Quality has been set as a 2-1 favorite for the Belmont Stakes on Saturday.

The California Horse Racing Board says it will honor any action against Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert by other states if his license is suspended or revoked after a hearing and due process.

As of late Tuesday, Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit's split sample had not only not been tested; it had yet to leave Churchill Downs.

The temporary suspension prevents Baffert from entering any horses to race at Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course and Aqueduct Racetrack.

Baffert has been suspended temporarily by the New York Racing Association, disqualifying him from the upcoming Triple Crown race.

Trainer Bob Baffert, whose Medina Spirit had a positive drug test, is temporarily barred from entering horses at Belmont, Saratoga and Aqueduct.

Bob Baffert has been temporarily suspended from entering horses at New York racetracks pending an investigation of the failed drug test by Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.

Horse trainer Bob Baffert was temporarily suspended by New York racing officials from entering horses — including Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit — in the upcoming Belmont Stakes or races at other major state tracks.

Trainer Bob Baffert issued a statement Saturday in which he apologized for his handling of the announcement of Medina Spirit’s positive drug test

Rombauer's victory in the Preakness ended a Triple Crown bid that would have been fraught with controversy going into the Belmont.

Midnight Bourbon came in second and Medina Spirit had to settle for third place.

The final official numbers from Saturday’s 146th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

Horse racing avoids more controversy as Medina Spirit finishes third in the Preakness Stakes to end its Triple Crown bid.

Rombauer has won the Preakness as an 11-1 long shot after his owners decided to skip the Kentucky Derby.

Against long odds, Rombauer won the second leg of the Triple Crown in Baltimore on Saturday at the 146th running of the Preakness Stakes.

Midnight Bourbon came in second and Medina Spirit had to settle for third place.

Rombauer sprung an upset to win the Preakness Stakes at odds of 11-1.

Rombauer has given trainer Michael McCarthy his first Triple Crown victory by winning the 146th running of the Preakness as an 11-1 shot.

Rombauer has given trainer Michael McCarthy his first Triple Crown victory by winning the 146th running of the Preakness as an 11-1 long shot. Rombauer came on strong down the stretch to overtake Bob Baffert's front-running Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit on Saturday. Medina Spirit finished first at Churchill Downs two weeks ago but that result remains in limbo because the horse tested positive for a steroid after the race.

The 146th running of the Preakness Stakes will take place Saturday from Pimlico Race Course and will be televised by NBC. Post time is 6:50 p.m. ET.

The announcement comes after the horse tested positive for the steroid betamethasone in a sample taken after the Derby.

The conversation this week should be about how Medina Spirit ran a sensational race at the Kentucky Derby, raving about how the horse’s rags-to-riches story is just the type of feel-good tale that the world needs in some brutally difficult times.

Medina Spirit passed three rounds of pre-race drug tests and will be eligible to run in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, officials announced Friday.

The announcement comes after the horse tested positive for the steroid betamethasone in a sample taken after the Derby.

Some fans are back at the Preakness to witness another run at a Triple Crown.

Medina Spirit has passed three rounds of prerace drug testing and been cleared to run in the Preakness on Saturday. Maryland racing officials said Friday tests on the Kentucky Derby winner and fellow Bob Baffert-trained Concert Tour came back with nothing that would cause either to be scratched from the second leg of the Triple Crown. Baffert’s camp agreed to rigorous testing and monitoring of his horses as a condition of entry to the Preakness, after Medina Spirit tested positive for the steroid betamethasone in post-Derby testing.

A class action lawsuit on behalf of Kentucky Derby bettors seeks monetary compensation and Bob Baffert's removal from thoroughbred racing.

Midnight Bourbon and Concert Tour are the biggest challengers in the Preakness to Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit.

The lawyer for Medina Spirit's owner contends that a positive split sample should not mean automatic disqualification for the Kentucky Derby winner.

Bob Baffert not physically being present at the Preakness isn't keeping his shadow from hanging over the race and the Triple Crown.

For five years, a bill that would place the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency in charge of fighting illicit drug use in horse racing went nowhere in Congress.

If Medina Spirit fails a second drug test, the horse will be stripped of its title.

Days after revelation of positive test for Medina Spirit, the will of horse racing to hold Bob Baffert accountable already looks like it’s teetering.

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit leads 10-horse field for Saturday's Preakness at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

The Preakness is allowing Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit to enter Saturday's race subject to additional testing and monitoring following the colt’s failed drug test after the Derby.

After previously accusing critics of "cancel culture," trainer Bob Baffert admitted Tuesday that the horse had been given an ointment containing the offending drug in the days leading up to the Derby.

If Medina Spirit fails a second drug test, the horse will be stripped of its title.

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit was allowed to enter the Preakness Stakes, with conditions, despite failing a drug test after the first Triple Crown leg.

If Medina Spirit fails a second drug test, the horse will be stripped of its title.

Trainer Bob Baffert says Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit was treated with an antifungal ointment containing the steroid betamethasone that may have caused the horse to fail a postrace drug test.

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit's failed postrace drug test has put doping horses back in the spotlight when the sport would rather have the focus on the Triple Crown.

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit is headed to Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes while trainer Bob Baffert says he won’t attend the race to avoid being a distraction in the wake of scrutiny following the colt’s failed postrace drug test.

Medina Spirit’s victory in the Kentucky Derby is in serious jeopardy because of a failed postrace drug test.

As Bob Baffert digests a record seventh Kentucky Derby win that even caught him off guard, the Hall of Fame trainer and Medina Spirit’s connections must determine whether the colt will turn around quickly for the Preakness on May 15.

Medina Spirit fought off three challengers in the stretch to win the Kentucky Derby, making Bob Baffert the winningest trainer in the race’s 147-year history with seven victories.

Medina Spirit has won the 147th Kentucky Derby by a half-length over Mandaloun to give Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert a record seventh victory in the premier race for 3-year-olds.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has successfully appealed his 15-day suspension to the Arkansas Racing Commission.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, fined and suspended last year by Arkansas racing officials for a pair of drug positives, sat through nearly nine hours of testimony on the first day of his appeal hearing.

Rock Your World won the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby by 4 1/4 lengths over 4-5 favorite Medina Spirit, preventing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert from earning his 10th win in the West Coast’s prep for the Kentucky Derby.

(AP Photo/Peter Morgan, FileARCADIA, Calif. – Stewards at Santa Anita have dismissed complaints filed by the California Horse Racing Board involving the post-race drug tests of Triple Crown winner Justify and another horse in 2018, both of whom were trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. Stewards John Herbuveaux, Ron Church and Kim Sawyer issued their ruling on the combined cases late Wednesday after hearing evidence and testimony via video on Oct. 29. The CHRB had sought the disqualifications of Justify from his victory in the 2018 Santa Anita Derby and Hoppertunity from his win in the Tokyo City Cup the following day. Baffert has said that neither horse was administered scopolamine, which is sometimes used to treat mild colic and spasms. The racing board had filed the complaint against Justify as part of a settlement of a lawsuit filed by Mick Ruis, the owner-trainer of Santa Anita Derby runner-up Bolt d'Oro.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Authentic’s track-record time in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland has been updated to 1:59.60 after a review of multiple sources and camera angles. The Bob Baffert-trained colt went wire to wire for a 2¼-length victory over stablemate Improbable in Saturday’s 1¼-mile finale of the season-ending world championships, but his time wasn’t shown on the trackside race clock. The initial time of 1:59.19 provided by Equibase used available video replay. Further review determined fractions of 23.20, 46.84, 1:10.32, 1:34.64 and confirming a final time of 1:59.60. Authentic’s time broke the mark of 2:00.07 by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

John Velazquez, right, rides Authentic to win the Breeder's Cup Classic horse race at Keeneland Race Course, in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. Many of its best competitors performed at the top of their games on a record-breaking weekend, sparking high expectations for 2021. The sport just hopes that next year’s schedule returns to normal and that spectators can be in the grandstands enjoying the races. So, I miss the fans.”“I’ll be glad when everything gets back to normal and we have the fans back," he said. “We had a reason to smile again in horse racing and show off to people who were watching what a beautiful sport it is with the excitement and the nervousness," Baffert said.

John Velazquez (9) rides Authentic to win the Breeder's Cup Classic horse race at Keeneland Race Course, in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)LEXINGTON, Ky. – From start to finish, Authentic left no doubt he was the horse to beat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Her second Cup win in three years followed a big upset in the Mile by Order of Australia. Another Irish bred, Tarnawa, won the $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf immediately before the Classic with Colin Keane in Soumillon's place. The 18-1 choice saved his best for last as he stormed outside from near the rail in the stretch to win by 3¼ lengths and earn his first Breeders’ Cup win in four starts.

Kentucky Derby winner Authentic is taken for a workout at the Breeders' Cup World Championship horse races at Keeneland Race Course Thursday, Nov. 5, 2020, in Lexington, Ky. Authentic is scheduled to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic race Saturday. While it has made for a strange year and compacted path to this weekend’s $31 million Breeders’ Cup world championships at Keeneland, the 14 races running Friday and Saturday at the picturesque track provides some normalcy after a season of upheaval. “The Breeders’ Cup is perhaps the only sport in which the product on the field has actually benefited from the pandemic,” NBC Sports analyst Randy Moss said in a network release. Considering concerns about whether the Breeders’ Cup would occur at all, the question almost seems welcome.

8 post position for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the marquee race of the season-ending World Championships at Keeneland. Kentucky Derby champion Authentic, a Baffert pupil who held off Tiz the Law in a wire-to-wire victory at Churchill, will go off at 6-1 from the No. I can’t do any more for him.”Filly Swiss Skydiver, who won last month's Preakness against males and was a Classic pre-entry, opted to run against her own gender in Breeders' Cup Distaff over 1 1/8 miles. “She was 11 of 11 in the Breeders’ Cup in 2018," he said. 7 post for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile that cap Friday’s five-race feature card for 2-year-olds.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)A filly trained by two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert has tested positive in a postrace drug test for the second time this year, making it the third positive test by a horse in Baffert’s stable in the last six months. He blamed the positive test on environmental contamination linked to a pain patch worn by assistant trainer Jim Barnes. Between her two positive tests, Gamine won the Acorn Stakes at Belmont and the Test Stakes at Saratoga, both in New York. The same day Gamine tested positive at Oaklawn, another Baffert horse also failed a postrace test. Charlatan, who won a division of the Arkansas Derby, also tested positive for lidocaine and was disqualified.

Four weeks later, filly Swiss Skydiver challenged and beat Authentic in the Preakness. The Triple Crown races run out of order and later in the year produced three different winners and quite the competition for 3-year-old horse of the year. said NBC Sports analyst Kenny Rice, one of the few people to witness all three 2020 Triple Crown races in person. “We can look at both races, I suppose,” McPeek said after Swiss Skydiver won the Preakness. “We got to see most of the good 3- year-olds still in training run in the Triple Crown races.

"She’s just such a special filly," said trainer Kenny McPeek, who won the Preakness for the first time for his second Triple Crown race victory. “I had an opportunity,” said Albarado, who won his second Preakness after 2007 aboard Curlin. Swiss Skydiver was the first filly to run in the Preakness since 2014, when Ria Antonia finished last. “That’s a good filly,” said Authentic and Thousand Words trainer Bob Baffert, who was denied a record-breaking eighth Preakness victory. Swiss Skydiver made it so each Triple Crown race in 2020 had a different winner.

Preakness race week began Monday with a draw that lacked the usual fanfare of owners and trainers packing into a crowded tent with an open bar in the infield. Kentucky Derby winner Authentic was installed as the 9-5 morning line favorite and drew the No. Baffert, with his right hand man Barnes by his side, is undefeated when taking the Derby winner to the Preakness. Tiz the Law is skipping the Preakness to prepare for the Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 7. She's looking to be the sixth filly to win the Preakness and first since Rachel Alexandra in 2009.

FILE - In this June 20, 2020, file photo, Tiz the Law (8), with jockey Manny Franco up, approaches the finish line on his way to winning the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes horse race in Elmont, N.Y. Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law wont run in next months Preakness, spoiling what would have been a highly anticipated rematch with Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. The Preakness on Oct. 3 at Pimlico concludes this years reconfigured Triple Crown series, which was run out of order because of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law won’t run in next month’s Preakness, spoiling what would have been a highly anticipated rematch with Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. The colt won the shortened Belmont Stakes in New York on June 20 to open the Triple Crown series. By skipping the Preakness, Tiz the Law will have 63 days between the Derby and the BC Classic, which is worth $6 million.

Bob Bafferts latest star achieved that by blowing past Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law to win going away Saturday at Churchill Downs. Though Authentic shattered hopes for a Triple Crown winner this year, he raised questions about what hell do for an encore, which could include a possible rematch against Tiz the Law at the Preakness in Baltimore on Oct. 3. There figures to be other well-rested horses to contend with, though Baffert touted Tiz the Law as a formidable foe at Pimlico Race Course. But those options are for later, and Baffert is happy that Authentic emerged from the Derby in good shape. Right now, at the end of the day Tiz the Law is still going to be tough.

Authentic won by 1 1/4 lengths without the usual crowd of 150,000 on hand at Churchill Downs because of the coronavirus pandemic. The bay colt ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.61 under John Velazquez, who earned his third Derby victory. Sent off at 3-5 as the biggest Derby favorite in 31 years, Tiz the Law stalked Authentic on the outside before challenging at the top of the stretch. Yes! Baffert shouted in the paddock, where he watched the race on the video screen. Tiz the Law had already won the Belmont, the kickoff to the reconfigured Triple Crown that was run in June at a shorter distance.