Baffert to ESPN: ‘False narrative’ led to Kentucky Derby ban

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who is barred from competing in the next two Kentucky Derby's, plus currently serving a 90-day suspension, gave his side of the story in an interview with ESPN that was released on Friday. 

Questioned by ESPN's Marty Smith, Baffert claimed the punishment and disqualification of last year's Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit due to a failed drug test is all the result of 'a false narrative.

"People were getting wrong information, and this was going on so fast," Baffert told Smith. "Everybody just ran with a false narrative. Just ran. They're still running with a false narrative. And it takes a while to change that, especially, you know, the biased reporting against me.

"I'm still dealing with that," he continued. "But in time, like I said, when we get to a neutral, fair ... we just need someone with common sense, fairness to listen to this -- and we have the facts, tests. We have everything. It's all there."    

The 69-year-old trainer said he was particularly troubled by Medina Spirit's disqualification. The colt, who died suddenly last December at Santa Anita after a workout, tested positive for the anti-inflammatory betamethasone after the Kentucky Derby.

As a result of the failed test, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission this year disqualified Medina Spirit and elevated runner-up Mandaloun to the win. While betamethasone is a legal, regulated medication, in Kentucky it must be cleared of a horse's system on race day. 

Baffert initially denied Medina Spirit had ever been treated with the drug, but later revealed the presence of betamethasone was likely the result of a topical ointment used to treat a skin rash on Medina Spirit prior to the race.  

"Who would've thought an ointment – an ointment – took down the Kentucky Derby winner," Baffert told ESPN. "That's just not right. And that's something that we're going to, you know, we're gonna fight vigorously to save that horse's Kentucky Derby, because he...deserved the win."

He added, "I never got my due process...

"It killed me when they made a big deal taking [Medina Spirit's] name off, in the paddock," Baffert continued. "And they took my signs down at the barn. It's tough to see that, but you know what, at the end of the day, when the facts come out ... it tells a different story.

"That day will come."

When questioned directly if he had cheated, Baffert "vehemently denied it," according to ESPN. 

To view the full story on ESPN, click here.