by Darren Moore
In 1933 two horses pulled clear of the Kentucky Derby field inside the final furlong and as the wire approached their riders, desperate to win horse racing’s most coveted prize, frantically grabbed and whipped each other.
The race became known as the ‘fighting finish’ and has been immortalised by photographer Wallace Lowry’s photo taken from his vantage point laid under the rail at Churchill Downs rails.
More recently we have 2009 Derby winner Mine That Bird who defied betting odds of +5000 to land the Run for the Rosses for little known New Mexico based trainer Chip Woolley.
And who that witnessed the 2019 Kentucky Derby will ever forget the disqualification of first-past-the-post Maximum Security giving the race to +6500 outsider Country House?
2021 Drug Controversy
The Kentucky Derby has had its fair share of memorable moments and controversy but nothing matches 2021 when Medina Spirit, a $1,000 yearling purchase, gave trainer Bob Baffert his seventh win in the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Hold all betting tickets, the rags-to-riches victory is not the big news story.
The biggest controversy to rock the biggest race of them all (and the sport) came to light eight days after the victory when Medina Spirit returned a post-race blood sample showing an above the permitted threshold quantity of the anti-inflammatory drug betamethasone.
While horse racing rarely makes mainstream news coverage it certainly did on Monday and Bob Baffert was quick to go on the defensive hosting a press conference outside of his barn at Churchill Downs.
“This is the biggest gut-punch I’ve had in racing and it’s for something I didn’t do,” Baffert told the press. “It’s an injustice. I don’t know what’s going on in racing now but it’s not right. I cannot believe that I’m here. I don’t feel embarrassed, I feel like I was wronged. We’re going to do a complete investigation. He’s a great horse and he doesn’t deserve this.”
Stating “Medina Spirit was never administered betamethasone” the trainer told reporters that he would “fight the issue tooth and nail because I owe it to the horse, I owe it to the owner, and I owe it to our industry.”
Stern Churchill
For their part Churchill Downs, home to the Kentucky Derby, said: “It is our understanding that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit’s post-race blood sample indicated a violation of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s equine medication protocols. The connections of Medina Spirit have the right to request a test of a split sample and we understand they intend to do so.
“To be clear, if the findings are upheld, Medina Spirit’s result in the Kentucky Derby will be invalidated and Mandaloun will be declared the winner. Failure to comply with the rules and medication protocols jeopardises the safety of the horses and jockeys, the integrity of our sport and the reputation of the Kentucky Derby and all who participate. Churchill Downs will not tolerate it.
Once the failed drugs test was disclosed Churchill Downs moved to suspended Bob Baffert from entering any horses at their racetrack pending the outcome of the commission’s investigation.
Preakness Next or Not?
Separately the post draw for the Triple Crown’s second leg, the Preakness Stakes, has been put back with Pimlico’s track owners saying they “intend to review the relevant facts and information relating to the reported medication positive as a result of the post-race blood sample testing completed by Churchill Downs following the 147th Kentucky Derby involving Medina Spirit trained by Bob Baffert.
We are consulting with the Maryland Racing Commission and any decision regarding the entry of Medina Spirit in the 146th Preakness Stakes will be made after review of the facts.”
The Preakness post draw is is now set for 4pm local time on Tuesday. Below you can find the horse racing futures odds for the Preakness winner and also the winner ‘without Medina Spirit’.
Preakness Stakes Draw 2021
- Ram, D. Wayne Lukas, Ricardo Santana Jr, 30-1
- Keepmeinmind, Robertino Diodoro, David Cohen, 15-1
- Medina Spirit, Bob Baffert, John Velazquez, 9-5
- Crowded Trade, Chad Brown, Javier Castellano, 10-1
- Midnight Bourbon, Steve Asmussen, Irad Ortiz Jr., 5-1
- Rombauer, Michael McCarthy, Flavien Prat, 12-1
- France Go de Ina, Hideyuki Mori, Joel Rosario, 20-1
- Unbridled Honor, Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez, 15-1
- Risk Taking, Chad Brown, Jose Ortiz, 15-1
- Concert Tour, Bob Baffert, Mike Smith, 5-2
The Preakness Stakes Trophy
Darren lives & breathes sports betting and is always sniffing out his next value bet. His favourite sports to bet on are the NFL, horse racing and UFC but he will bet on anything if he thinks the odds are favourable.
