The horse that won the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit, died Monday, months after testing positive for an illegal substance following the race.
The investigation into a positive drug test that could result in disqualification was still ongoing at the time of the colt's death.
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According to a statement from Baffert provided by attorney Craig Robertson, Medina Spirit died from a heart attack after a workout.
The investigation into how the drug got into Medina Spirit's system was still pending at the time of the colt's death, despite the fact that the horse tested positive for a banned substance shortly after winning the Derby in May.
Baffert was suspended by many racing organizations for his involvement in the drug scandal, though he maintains his innocence.
The rags-to-riches story was made famous by the sale of Medina Spirit for $1,000 in 2019. The positive press for Medina Spirit's team was short-lived, as a drug test found the horse had twice the legal level of a banned drug. The New York Times reported that Baffert's horses have failed 30 drug tests in the last four decades, and that the win had become the latest example of his horses' spotted drug history. The horse of the title was stripped of it's title after the positive test. A urine sample test in June confirmed the presence of illegal levels of betamethasone. Baffert and his camp have long claimed that the presence of this steroid was not from an injection, but from a cream. According to a statement from Robertson last week, another split test confirmed that Medina Spirit had entered its bloodstream with a veterinary- directed medication.
A total of $1.86 million. If the horse is disqualified, the team will have to return the prize money.
Bob Baffert's lawyer said that the test proved that the drug was not injected.
The Kentucky Derby winner tested positive for a banned substance.
Bob Baffert is the trainer of the Kentucky Derby winner.
