Not only does Sergio de Sousa keep Cozmic One happy and healthy at his farm, he goes out of his way to share updates with us. Here’s a glimpse into Coz’s birthday morning at De Sousa Stables.
Happy birthday Coz!
Cozmic One, birthday 2021. Video by Sergio de Sousa.
Cozmic One, birthday 2021. Video by Sergio de Sousa.
Happy Friday everyone! Can’t believe that December has arrived. Trying to cheer myself up with the fact that in a few short weeks, things will start turning around again as far as daylight is concerned?
Fearsome machinery in a nearby field has caused great stress for our boy Hovey, and that in turn has caused great stress for his Mum. Sedation has been administered. We will hope for the best?.
Have a good week and all the best to Code of Honor on what may be his farewell race tomorrow. Pegasus is not out of the question, but a lot will depend on tomorrow. ??
Dear Sandy,
Poor Hovis, he does manage to get himself into hot water! Hope the
sedative works for settling his nerves and soothing Mum’s worries.
Those big yellow earth-moving machines can be scary!
Thanks as always, Sandy❣️
Best of Luck to Code of Honor — safe racing to him and everyone!
Hugs and Love
Sandy,
Thanks for your Friday Fun Post! Poor Hovis. I can undestand his stress. Several of the houses on my street are being re-roofed. Noise and the workers seem to like their music very loud.
Sorry Honor Code did not do better. Hope his retirement will be good and he can have dates with many beautiful mares.
I hate this time of year too. Dark at 5 and daylight at 8.
Take care and thanks for all you did for our contest.
Don’t know about y’all, but boy, would like to have been a fly on the wall in that Jock’s Room. Uncle Johnny keeping it classy.
Zandor, Firenze Fire could give you the tips in case this happens again, which it could looking ahead. Zandor is a HUNK!
Oh my gosh, Santa, I want a pony!!!!
Hope all are well. Luv ya Zenny!
Dear Judy,
Best of everything to Art Sherman — truly a nice guy.
Hope he has a long happy and healthy retirement.
Thanks for sharing this great article with us, JB❣️
Hugs and Love
Thanks Judy and Ann for posting these links!
Things can get rough out on the track.
Tonight, I am enjoying “The Bishop’s Wife” (1947) on TCM. One of my favorites — why is it that most of my beloved movies are older than I am?
❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Hugs and Love!
judy berube
Dest Marshall:
I can relate?. I like the Classics too. Love and Hugs, JB❤️❤️❤️
judy berube
OOPs: Dear Marshall. Sorry about that. Love and Hugs, JB
Dear Ann and Z’sters,
That was some finish! It seems the consensus among commentators was that the winner should have been taken down due to Irad’s overly aggressive riding. I have to agree. Uncle Johnny had a disappointing day — 4 graded stakes races yesterday and he finished second in all of them (3 of those were places to mounts ridden by Irad). He rode excellent races though. Following Seas ran a fine race in the Cigar Mile to finish just a bit short to Americanrevolution (another beautiful chestnut!), both trained by Todd P.
Chad Brown, Zandon’s trainer, was apparently quite annoyed by the Remsen decision, also. Yes, Zandon is very handsome and determined. Mo Donegal
ran a great race in the Remsen, but his rider not so much. IMHO.
There were a lot of bumps happening yesterday at the Big A — rough-riding!
Glad everybody emerged okay. ?
Hugs and Love
Hope Irad takes the hint. He’s already appealing a 30 day suspension handed down on Friday at Aqueduct for reckless riding. He’s risking injury to himself, other riders and horses.
Thanks, JB. Loved reading about Trainer Art Sherman.
Zandon, am sorry I spelled your name incorrectly. Love you.
Am happy the stewards did their job, after much public outrage.
Watch over our precious and brave ones, Racing Gods.
Oh this Monday…….am sick, just can’t stand it after reading the latest news. I am at a loss………RIP, Medina Spirit, innocent one.
judy berube
Dear Ann and Z Fans:
Ann, I’m just overcome with sadness after reading your post and the article in BloodHorse. ???
Run free in God’s Heaven beautiful Spirit. You are one of the bravest Warriors ever. Love You. Hugs, JB
Marshall (NC Broad)
Oh my goodness, what horrible news.
RIP Medina Spirit, beautiful soul. Such a sad thing to
have happened, poor baby.
May you run free and happy among the angels, dear boy.
Tears and more tears. ? ?
Hugs and Love
I would have loved to be along side your fly in the jockey room. Just saw on Bloodhorse.com that Irad has been suspended for 30 days because his actions cause another rider to fall. I hope Todd had a serious talk with him. Jose is my fav of the brothers.
Somehow, I believe his racing career is just starting and he is going to win the zillion quadruple crown.
He’s just getting started and shaking things up already.
RIP, beautiful boy.
Love to all.
Dear Judy,
Thanks for trying to help me; however, I cannot read the article without signing in to either Google, Facebook or Apple — I have had this problem with NYT articles in the past, too. I don’t know how to circumvent creating an account.
I do appreciate your efforts though❣️
Hugs and Love
Dear Judy,
Thanks for posting this link! I, too, wish all horses could have their “happily ever after” — they certainly deserve it. This is a great article!
Lots of happy healthy years filled with love to “Pinky”❣️ Love this nickname. Many thanks to LongRun, too.
Hugs and Love
Dear Marshall — I know, the NYT can be a pain in the neck about accessing their articles, so I’ve cut & pasted it for you below:
Medina Spirit, an Embattled Kentucky Derby Winner, Dies During a Workout
By Joe Drape
The colt suffered an apparent heart attack while working out at the Santa Anita Park racetrack. California racing officials pledged to do a necropsy and make their findings public.
Medina Spirit, the race horse whose victory in the Kentucky Derby had been called into question by a failed post-race drug test, died on Monday after a timed workout.
The colt suffered an apparent heart attack after working five furlongs at the Santa Anita Park racetrack in Southern California, said Dr. Jeff Blea, the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board.
“Near the end of his breeze this morning, he did not feel right and his rider tried to pull him up,” Blea said. “He went down. Our vet on the scene got there immediately and he was already expired.”
Blea said a necropsy would determine more details about the death and a final report would be made public.
The colt’s trainer, Bob Baffert, said he was devastated by the death.
“Medina Spirit was a great champion, a member of our family who was loved by all, and we are deeply mourning his loss,” Baffert said in a statement released by his lawyer, W. Craig Robertson III. “I will always cherish the proud and personal memories of Medina Spirit and his tremendous spirit.”
Medina Spirit’s owner, Amr Zedan of Saudi Arabia, was not immediately available for comment. Zedan’s lawyer, Clark Brewster, said he had spoken with both his client and Baffert on Monday morning. Both said Medina Spirit was training well after an impressive second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November and was preparing for another race in the coming weeks, Brewster said.
“They are wracked with grief. It’s truly tragic,” Brewster said. “He was training great and moving easily and then Bob said when he finished up he just collapsed.”
The death of Medina Spirit does not resolve whether his Derby victory will be allowed to stand. Baffert’s lawyers have challenged the test in the federal courts, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has yet to hold a hearing. At stake for Zedan is the Derby’s $1.8 million first-place check, which would be awarded to the owners of Mandaloun, the second place finisher, if Medina Spirit’s victory is invalidated. The victory was also a record seventh in the Derby for Baffert.
The trainer’s reputation and broader future in the sport are in the balance as Baffert has been banned for two years from Churchill Downs, the track that hosts the Derby, and the New York Racing Association has sought to do the same.
Blea said the veterinarian on the scene, Dr. Laurie Bohannon, took hair, urine and blood samples from the colt for forensic and toxicology purposes.
So far this year, 13 percent of the 71 racing deaths of thoroughbreds and American quarter horses in California have been sudden deaths.
“Horses’ vascular systems are complicated,” Blea said. “Sudden death necropsies are more in depth but sometimes fail to tell you what happened conclusively.”
At 12-to-1 odds, Medina Spirit was a surprising winner of the Derby, America’s most famous race, in May. The colt was sold as a yearling for only $1,000 and was a bargain for Zedan, who paid just $35,000 for him.
A week after winning the Derby, however, Baffert announced that a post-race test found the drug betamethasone, a corticosteroid injected into joints to reduce pain and swelling, in Medina Spirit. At the time, Baffert strongly denied that he or anyone else on his team had administered the drug to the horse.
He gave a series of TV and radio interviews in the following days offering various theories about how the colt had tested positive. He criticized Churchill Downs’s suspension of him as “harsh” and cited “cancel culture” for the controversy.
Baffert, however, soon reversed himself. He said that Medina Spirit had a rash on his hind end, and that an ointment used daily to treat the dermatitis contained the substance.
The colt’s positive test added to the questions surrounding Baffert and the perception by rivals an others in the industry of the special treatment he receives as the most successful trainer and biggest personality in horse racing. His horses have failed 30 drug tests over four decades, including five in a recent 13-month period.
Medina Spirit tested positive for the same substance found in the Baffert-trained filly Gamine after she finished third in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, a showcase for 3-year-old fillies held at Churchill Downs.
In 2019, The New York Times reported that Justify, also trained by Baffert, had failed a drug test after winning the 2018 Santa Anita Derby in Southern California, before going on to win the Triple Crown, the most celebrated set of races in the sport.
The rules at the time dictated that Justify should have forfeited the win at Santa Anita and have been barred from racing at the Kentucky Derby a month later. Justify’s failed test was investigated for four months, allowing the horse to keep competing long enough to win not only the Derby, but also the Preakness in Baltimore and the Belmont Stakes in New York to become the 13th Triple Crown winner. His post-race tests were clean in all three.
The California Horse Racing Board’s chairman at the time, Chuck Winner, had employed Baffert to train his horses.
In August 2018, after Justify’s breeding rights had been sold for $60 million, the racing board’s medical director suggested the illegal substance scopolamine might have been present in some jimsonweed, which can contaminate hay eaten by horses. The board disposed of the inquiry altogether during a rare closed-door session.
In 2013, California regulators investigated a run of sudden deaths in its horse population, including seven horses trained by Baffert that died in a 16-month period. The deaths went unexplained and its final report found no evidence that the “rules or regulations have been violated.”
Last month, the 14-member board of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships allowed Baffert’s horses to compete after undergoing more testing and surveillance than those entered by his rivals. Baffert saddled horses for six of those board members. Six more either own horses in Baffert’s stable or stand stallions that he once trained.
Medina Spirit finished second to Knicks Go in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in what was the final race of a career where the colt won five of his 10 starts for earnings of more than $3.5 million.
Joe Drape has been writing about the intersection of sports, culture and money since coming to The Times in 1998. He has also pursued these lines of reporting as the author of two best-selling books. @joedrape
Dear Dee,
Thanks so much for taking the time to cut and paste this article for me and others! The article is very interesting (and disturbing) — some of these board members seem to have conflicts of interest when it comes to decisions made. Poor Medina Spirit (and others) deserved a much better fate.
Thank you again for sharing this article.
Hugs and Love ?
Dear Ann and Judy,
Yes, that will be the only silver lining to this tragedy albeit a very important one indeed. Light our way, dear Spirit.
Thanks for posting this article, Ann.
Hugs and Love ?
Happy Friday everyone! Hovis is heading up the effort to discourage Kissmuss decorations on all equines (especially himself). Cunning strategies are provided for fellow sufferers. https://secure.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/hovis-friday-diary-nationwide-equine-plan-b-771642
Adding my condolences to all connections of Medina Spirit. I actually heard myself gasp when I saw the headline! I hope the UMN researchers will be able to learn something that might help identify future horses at risk for cardiac issues including lethal disruptions in heart rhythm. Unfortunately, that is something that will likely NOT show up on postmortem examination which will probably fuel more unkind rhetoric.
Dear Sandy,
Thank you for our Hovis check-in. Poor guy doesn’t like being trimmed like a tree/elf/etc. He does look quite handsome in the Kissmuss outfit though!
Ho-Ho-Ho Hovis❣️
Hugs and Love
Dear Judy,
Amen to what you posted.
Tremendous catastrophe in Mayfield, Ky. and in parts of Tenn., Ark., and surrounding areas. Condolences to all who lost family, friends, homes and businesses — keeping everyone in our thoughts and prayers.
Stay safe. ?
Hugs and Love ?
Dear Zenyatta, thankful that you and everyone else is safe after the storm and tornadoes. Praying for all to recover from the devastation. Love and hugs, Marilu
Amen.
Could not sleep the other night but stayed awake and prayed for Zenny and all of our precious ones.
Thank goodness recovery help has been swift.
Love to all.
Congrats Slow Down Andy on your win. Love jockey Mario.
How about Loves Only You. Congrats beautiful girl and good luck with your new direction in life as a Mom. Who will she visit? That Sunday Silence line….wow!
Hot Rod Charlie, you the MAN!!!! Congrats on your award! I mean, he really is the people’s horse. Congrats Team HRC.
Love to all.
OMG I thought a foot of snow with another foot forecast for today and a temp of 7 degrees was bad. May any of you Zsters who live in the area of the tornados be in a safe place now. YAY! I just read read about Hot Rod Charlie, soooooo glad he won the Vox Populi.
Happy Holidays With a New Year approaching I was just wondering if anyone had seen or heard anything at all about our dear sweet Zenyatta. What about Cosmic One and Ziconic? How are they doing in their new careers? What about Zellda? Any word at all about who and when she will begin her career as a MOM. Last but not least what about Zilka? Any word at all about how her training is going? Finally, may all our four footed friends who are no longer with us run with the angels.
judy berube
Dear Ann, Marshall and Z Fans:
Trevor is back in New York. Just found this.
https://www.paulickreport.com/news/people/trevor-mccarthy-returns-to-new-york-with-joe-migliore-as-agent/
The little bundle of joy is due this month too. Love and Hugs, JB
Ann NC
No grass growing under their feet.
Wishing them all the best.
Thanks, JB.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Judy,
Thanks for the Trevor news!
Glad to have him back in NY, too.
What a December they will have!
Hugs and Love
judy berube
Dear Ann and Marshall:
Love and Hugs, JB
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Happy Friday everyone! Can’t believe that December has arrived. Trying to cheer myself up with the fact that in a few short weeks, things will start turning around again as far as daylight is concerned?
Fearsome machinery in a nearby field has caused great stress for our boy Hovey, and that in turn has caused great stress for his Mum. Sedation has been administered. We will hope for the best?.
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/hovis-friday-diary-one-has-to-make-choices-about-certain-things-like-whether-to-zig-instead-of-zag-770839
Have a good week and all the best to Code of Honor on what may be his farewell race tomorrow. Pegasus is not out of the question, but a lot will depend on tomorrow. ??
judy berube
Dear Sandy:
Oh, poor Hovie. Hope he can acclumate.
Godspeed beautiful Code of Honor. Love and Hugs, JB
judy berube
OOPs:
That’s acclimate. Oh boy!
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Sandy,
Poor Hovis, he does manage to get himself into hot water! Hope the
sedative works for settling his nerves and soothing Mum’s worries.
Those big yellow earth-moving machines can be scary!
Thanks as always, Sandy❣️
Best of Luck to Code of Honor — safe racing to him and everyone!
Hugs and Love
shirlee c cook
Sandy,
Thanks for your Friday Fun Post! Poor Hovis. I can undestand his stress. Several of the houses on my street are being re-roofed. Noise and the workers seem to like their music very loud.
Sorry Honor Code did not do better. Hope his retirement will be good and he can have dates with many beautiful mares.
I hate this time of year too. Dark at 5 and daylight at 8.
Take care and thanks for all you did for our contest.
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Have a lovely day and a restful night. Happy Dreams. Love all of you so much. Hugs, JB
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Goodnight and Happy Dreams. Love You. Big Hugs, JB??????????
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Enjoy your day. Happy Dreams. Love and Hugs, JB❣?❣?❣?❣?❣?
Ann NC
https://www.paulickreport.com/news/thoroughbred-racing/mo-donegal-wins-narrow-victory-over-zandon-in-remsen/
Don’t know about y’all, but boy, would like to have been a fly on the wall in that Jock’s Room. Uncle Johnny keeping it classy.
Zandor, Firenze Fire could give you the tips in case this happens again, which it could looking ahead. Zandor is a HUNK!
Oh my gosh, Santa, I want a pony!!!!
Hope all are well. Luv ya Zenny!
judy berube
Dear Ann and Z Fans:
Ann, had to watch that replay after reading your post. Here it is:
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/race/usa/aqu/2021/12/4/8/remsen-s-g2
Wow, that WAS a doozy of a finish.
Love and Hugs, JB
judy berube
Dear Z Fans:
A really profound article, I think, from BloodHorse on Art Sherman with insightful comments from him on his career as a jockey and trainer.
Wishing him a very happy retirement. Love and Hugs, JB
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/255401/sherman-steps-away-with-one-final-work-of-art
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Judy,
Best of everything to Art Sherman — truly a nice guy.
Hope he has a long happy and healthy retirement.
Thanks for sharing this great article with us, JB❣️
Hugs and Love
Marshall (NC Broad)
Thanks Judy and Ann for posting these links!
Things can get rough out on the track.
Tonight, I am enjoying “The Bishop’s Wife” (1947) on TCM. One of my favorites — why is it that most of my beloved movies are older than I am?
❤️ ❤️ ❤️
Hugs and Love!
judy berube
Dest Marshall:
I can relate?. I like the Classics too. Love and Hugs, JB❤️❤️❤️
judy berube
OOPs: Dear Marshall. Sorry about that. Love and Hugs, JB
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Ann and Z’sters,
That was some finish! It seems the consensus among commentators was that the winner should have been taken down due to Irad’s overly aggressive riding. I have to agree. Uncle Johnny had a disappointing day — 4 graded stakes races yesterday and he finished second in all of them (3 of those were places to mounts ridden by Irad). He rode excellent races though. Following Seas ran a fine race in the Cigar Mile to finish just a bit short to Americanrevolution (another beautiful chestnut!), both trained by Todd P.
Chad Brown, Zandon’s trainer, was apparently quite annoyed by the Remsen decision, also. Yes, Zandon is very handsome and determined. Mo Donegal
ran a great race in the Remsen, but his rider not so much. IMHO.
There were a lot of bumps happening yesterday at the Big A — rough-riding!
Glad everybody emerged okay. ?
Hugs and Love
judy berube
Dear Marshall, Ann and Z Fans:
Hope Irad takes the hint. He’s already appealing a 30 day suspension handed down on Friday at Aqueduct for reckless riding. He’s risking injury to himself, other riders and horses.
https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/irad-ortiz-jr-suspended-for-30-days/
Love and Hugs, JB
Ann NC
Thanks, JB. Loved reading about Trainer Art Sherman.
Zandon, am sorry I spelled your name incorrectly. Love you.
Am happy the stewards did their job, after much public outrage.
Watch over our precious and brave ones, Racing Gods.
Oh this Monday…….am sick, just can’t stand it after reading the latest news. I am at a loss………RIP, Medina Spirit, innocent one.
judy berube
Dear Ann and Z Fans:
Ann, I’m just overcome with sadness after reading your post and the article in BloodHorse. ???
Run free in God’s Heaven beautiful Spirit. You are one of the bravest Warriors ever. Love You. Hugs, JB
Marshall (NC Broad)
Oh my goodness, what horrible news.
RIP Medina Spirit, beautiful soul. Such a sad thing to
have happened, poor baby.
May you run free and happy among the angels, dear boy.
Tears and more tears. ? ?
Hugs and Love
judy berube
Dear Z Fans:
RIP Beautiful Medina Spirit.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/0Rdi6RjQdbOWCv1WLeKgfNI3Q
Love and Hugs, JB
Ann NC
Beautiful photo.
Thank you very much.
His spirit will remain with us in order to bring positive changes to racing.
shirlee c cook
I would have loved to be along side your fly in the jockey room. Just saw on Bloodhorse.com that Irad has been suspended for 30 days because his actions cause another rider to fall. I hope Todd had a serious talk with him. Jose is my fav of the brothers.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Me too, Shirlee!
Hugs and Love ?
Martha Fosdick
RIP Medina Spirit! That sweet horse could not catch a break. Much as I hate it, somehow I’m not terribly surprised. May he run with the angels
Ann NC
Somehow, I believe his racing career is just starting and he is going to win the zillion quadruple crown.
He’s just getting started and shaking things up already.
RIP, beautiful boy.
Love to all.
judy berube
Dear Ann:
So sweet ????. He’s racing with the Great Ones that have gone before.
Love and Hugs, JB
Kathy
Heartbroken over the tragic loss of Medina Spirit. We will never forget him. RIP, sweetheart and fly with the angels.
Hugs,
Kathy
Barbara Brayton
Just found out about Medina Spirit. How very sad. RIP.
Dee in the Hudson Valley
For anyone who has been following Joe Drape’s articles about Bob Baffert, here is today’s piece regarding Medina Spirit’s untimely death.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/06/sports/horse-racing/medina-spirit-dies.html
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Dee,
I’m sure this is a good article, but alas, I cannot access it. (not a subscriber)
Thanks though.
Hugs and Love
judy berube
Dear Marshall:
Try this link. Love and Hugs, JB
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/06/sports/horse-racing/medina-spirit-dies.amp.html
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Judy,
Thanks for trying to help me; however, I cannot read the article without signing in to either Google, Facebook or Apple — I have had this problem with NYT articles in the past, too. I don’t know how to circumvent creating an account.
I do appreciate your efforts though❣️
Hugs and Love
judy berube
Dear Marshall:
Sorry it didn’t work. Love and Hugs, JB
shirlee c cook
So sad for Medina Spirit. Bless his heart, he was unaware of all the fuss surrounding
him. Rest In Peace innocent spirit.
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Love all of you so much. Happy Dreams. Hugs, JB
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Love You. Goodnight. Hugs, JB❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?❤️?
judy berube
Dear Z Fans:
Great article from BloodHorse on Pink Lloyd’s arrival at LongRun.
https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/255454/pink-lloyd-settles-in-at-longrun
Enjoy life Champ.
Wish Medina Spirit could have had (and all of our beloved horses could have) this fairytale ending. Love and Hugs, JB
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Judy,
Thanks for posting this link! I, too, wish all horses could have their “happily ever after” — they certainly deserve it. This is a great article!
Lots of happy healthy years filled with love to “Pinky”❣️ Love this nickname. Many thanks to LongRun, too.
Hugs and Love
Ann NC
Saw Pinky enjoying his salt block in the back of his stall. Happy boy!
Happy Holidays, Pinky!!!
Dee in the Hudson Valley
Dear Marshall — I know, the NYT can be a pain in the neck about accessing their articles, so I’ve cut & pasted it for you below:
Medina Spirit, an Embattled Kentucky Derby Winner, Dies During a Workout
By Joe Drape
The colt suffered an apparent heart attack while working out at the Santa Anita Park racetrack. California racing officials pledged to do a necropsy and make their findings public.
Medina Spirit, the race horse whose victory in the Kentucky Derby had been called into question by a failed post-race drug test, died on Monday after a timed workout.
The colt suffered an apparent heart attack after working five furlongs at the Santa Anita Park racetrack in Southern California, said Dr. Jeff Blea, the equine medical director for the California Horse Racing Board.
“Near the end of his breeze this morning, he did not feel right and his rider tried to pull him up,” Blea said. “He went down. Our vet on the scene got there immediately and he was already expired.”
Blea said a necropsy would determine more details about the death and a final report would be made public.
The colt’s trainer, Bob Baffert, said he was devastated by the death.
“Medina Spirit was a great champion, a member of our family who was loved by all, and we are deeply mourning his loss,” Baffert said in a statement released by his lawyer, W. Craig Robertson III. “I will always cherish the proud and personal memories of Medina Spirit and his tremendous spirit.”
Medina Spirit’s owner, Amr Zedan of Saudi Arabia, was not immediately available for comment. Zedan’s lawyer, Clark Brewster, said he had spoken with both his client and Baffert on Monday morning. Both said Medina Spirit was training well after an impressive second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in November and was preparing for another race in the coming weeks, Brewster said.
“They are wracked with grief. It’s truly tragic,” Brewster said. “He was training great and moving easily and then Bob said when he finished up he just collapsed.”
The death of Medina Spirit does not resolve whether his Derby victory will be allowed to stand. Baffert’s lawyers have challenged the test in the federal courts, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has yet to hold a hearing. At stake for Zedan is the Derby’s $1.8 million first-place check, which would be awarded to the owners of Mandaloun, the second place finisher, if Medina Spirit’s victory is invalidated. The victory was also a record seventh in the Derby for Baffert.
The trainer’s reputation and broader future in the sport are in the balance as Baffert has been banned for two years from Churchill Downs, the track that hosts the Derby, and the New York Racing Association has sought to do the same.
Blea said the veterinarian on the scene, Dr. Laurie Bohannon, took hair, urine and blood samples from the colt for forensic and toxicology purposes.
So far this year, 13 percent of the 71 racing deaths of thoroughbreds and American quarter horses in California have been sudden deaths.
“Horses’ vascular systems are complicated,” Blea said. “Sudden death necropsies are more in depth but sometimes fail to tell you what happened conclusively.”
At 12-to-1 odds, Medina Spirit was a surprising winner of the Derby, America’s most famous race, in May. The colt was sold as a yearling for only $1,000 and was a bargain for Zedan, who paid just $35,000 for him.
A week after winning the Derby, however, Baffert announced that a post-race test found the drug betamethasone, a corticosteroid injected into joints to reduce pain and swelling, in Medina Spirit. At the time, Baffert strongly denied that he or anyone else on his team had administered the drug to the horse.
He gave a series of TV and radio interviews in the following days offering various theories about how the colt had tested positive. He criticized Churchill Downs’s suspension of him as “harsh” and cited “cancel culture” for the controversy.
Baffert, however, soon reversed himself. He said that Medina Spirit had a rash on his hind end, and that an ointment used daily to treat the dermatitis contained the substance.
The colt’s positive test added to the questions surrounding Baffert and the perception by rivals an others in the industry of the special treatment he receives as the most successful trainer and biggest personality in horse racing. His horses have failed 30 drug tests over four decades, including five in a recent 13-month period.
Medina Spirit tested positive for the same substance found in the Baffert-trained filly Gamine after she finished third in the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, a showcase for 3-year-old fillies held at Churchill Downs.
In 2019, The New York Times reported that Justify, also trained by Baffert, had failed a drug test after winning the 2018 Santa Anita Derby in Southern California, before going on to win the Triple Crown, the most celebrated set of races in the sport.
The rules at the time dictated that Justify should have forfeited the win at Santa Anita and have been barred from racing at the Kentucky Derby a month later. Justify’s failed test was investigated for four months, allowing the horse to keep competing long enough to win not only the Derby, but also the Preakness in Baltimore and the Belmont Stakes in New York to become the 13th Triple Crown winner. His post-race tests were clean in all three.
The California Horse Racing Board’s chairman at the time, Chuck Winner, had employed Baffert to train his horses.
In August 2018, after Justify’s breeding rights had been sold for $60 million, the racing board’s medical director suggested the illegal substance scopolamine might have been present in some jimsonweed, which can contaminate hay eaten by horses. The board disposed of the inquiry altogether during a rare closed-door session.
In 2013, California regulators investigated a run of sudden deaths in its horse population, including seven horses trained by Baffert that died in a 16-month period. The deaths went unexplained and its final report found no evidence that the “rules or regulations have been violated.”
Last month, the 14-member board of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships allowed Baffert’s horses to compete after undergoing more testing and surveillance than those entered by his rivals. Baffert saddled horses for six of those board members. Six more either own horses in Baffert’s stable or stand stallions that he once trained.
Medina Spirit finished second to Knicks Go in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in what was the final race of a career where the colt won five of his 10 starts for earnings of more than $3.5 million.
Joe Drape has been writing about the intersection of sports, culture and money since coming to The Times in 1998. He has also pursued these lines of reporting as the author of two best-selling books. @joedrape
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Dee,
Thanks so much for taking the time to cut and paste this article for me and others! The article is very interesting (and disturbing) — some of these board members seem to have conflicts of interest when it comes to decisions made. Poor Medina Spirit (and others) deserved a much better fate.
Thank you again for sharing this article.
Hugs and Love ?
Ann NC
https://vetmed.umn.edu/news/umn-researchers-help-study-death-kentucky-derby-winner-medina-spirit
The Spirit will keep giving.
Thank you, UMN. Put your hands up, put your hands up!
judy berube
Dear Ann:
Thanks for this link. Spirit ? may be instrumental in saving the lives of other horses.
Love and Hugs, JB
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Ann and Judy,
Yes, that will be the only silver lining to this tragedy albeit a very important one indeed. Light our way, dear Spirit.
Thanks for posting this article, Ann.
Hugs and Love ?
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Goodnight and Happy Dreams. Love and Big Hugs, JB????????????????????
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Happy Friday everyone! Hovis is heading up the effort to discourage Kissmuss decorations on all equines (especially himself). Cunning strategies are provided for fellow sufferers.
https://secure.horseandhound.co.uk/blog/hovis-friday-diary-nationwide-equine-plan-b-771642
Adding my condolences to all connections of Medina Spirit. I actually heard myself gasp when I saw the headline! I hope the UMN researchers will be able to learn something that might help identify future horses at risk for cardiac issues including lethal disruptions in heart rhythm. Unfortunately, that is something that will likely NOT show up on postmortem examination which will probably fuel more unkind rhetoric.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Sandy,
Thank you for our Hovis check-in. Poor guy doesn’t like being trimmed like a tree/elf/etc. He does look quite handsome in the Kissmuss outfit though!
Ho-Ho-Ho Hovis❣️
Hugs and Love
Ann NC
Thanks for the Xmas report from Hovis.
Looking good Hovis. You are such a good sport.
Merry Christmas!
judy berube
Dear Sandy:
Thanks for our Friday Hovis update. He is a clever rascal. Love the photo too.
Love and Hugs, JB
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Have a restful night and Happy Dreams. Love and Hugs, JB??????????????
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Terrible storms in parts of KY. Condolences to all who are lost or injured.
Please stay safe.
Love and Hugs, JB❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Judy,
Amen to what you posted.
Tremendous catastrophe in Mayfield, Ky. and in parts of Tenn., Ark., and surrounding areas. Condolences to all who lost family, friends, homes and businesses — keeping everyone in our thoughts and prayers.
Stay safe. ?
Hugs and Love ?
judy berube
Dear Marshall:
Love and Hugs, JB
Ann NC
Amen.
Marilu Villanueva
Dear Zenyatta, thankful that you and everyone else is safe after the storm and tornadoes. Praying for all to recover from the devastation. Love and hugs, Marilu
Ann NC
Amen.
Could not sleep the other night but stayed awake and prayed for Zenny and all of our precious ones.
Thank goodness recovery help has been swift.
Love to all.
Ann NC
Congrats Slow Down Andy on your win. Love jockey Mario.
How about Loves Only You. Congrats beautiful girl and good luck with your new direction in life as a Mom. Who will she visit? That Sunday Silence line….wow!
Hot Rod Charlie, you the MAN!!!! Congrats on your award! I mean, he really is the people’s horse. Congrats Team HRC.
Love to all.
judy berube
Dear Ann:
Congrats SDA and wishing all the best to LOY on becoming a Mama. Sunday really has a Royal legacy.
So happy for Hot Rod on his Secretariat Vox Populi award. Big congrats. Love and Hugs, JB
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Ann and Judy,
Ditto everything you both said! Congrats all around!
Gotta love that Hot Rod Charlie❣️
Hugs and Love
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Stay comfy and cozy and Happy Dreams. Goodnight. Love and Hugs, JB????
Martha Fosdick
OMG I thought a foot of snow with another foot forecast for today and a temp of 7 degrees was bad. May any of you Zsters who live in the area of the tornados be in a safe place now. YAY! I just read read about Hot Rod Charlie, soooooo glad he won the Vox Populi.
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Love all of you so much. Happy Dreams. Hugs, JB❤️??????????❤️
Martha Fosdick
Happy Holidays With a New Year approaching I was just wondering if anyone had seen or heard anything at all about our dear sweet Zenyatta. What about Cosmic One and Ziconic? How are they doing in their new careers? What about Zellda? Any word at all about who and when she will begin her career as a MOM. Last but not least what about Zilka? Any word at all about how her training is going? Finally, may all our four footed friends who are no longer with us run with the angels.
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZILand DC:
Have a peaceful night. Stay comfy and cozy. Love and Hugs, JB?????❤️❤️❤️?????
Barbara Brayton
Here in Colorado,we have had very high winds, knocking over semis. My heart goes out to all those affected by the tornados.
judy berube
Dear Barbara:
Mine too. Love and Hugs, JB
judy berube
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL, ZIL and DC:
Happy Dreams. Love You. Hugs, JB????????????????????