Report: Baffert, Zedan seek judicial review of Medina Spirit DQ

Medina Spirit owner Amr Zedan and trainer Bob Baffert filed a petition for judicial review of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s disqualification of the colt from the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

BloodHorse reported that the petition was filed in Franklin Circuit Court in Kentucky on Tuesday. It also includes a protest over Baffert’s 90-day suspension in Kentucky.

After crossing the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit was disqualified because of a finding of betamethasone. Zedan and Baffert have argued that the betamethasone applied to Medina Spirit was legally applied as an ointment, not an injection, but their challenges have not been successful. Baffert continues to be suspended by Churchill Downs Inc.

BloodHorse reported that Zedan and Baffert claim in the petition that the “laboratory limit of detection” used to identify betamethasone in Medina Spirit "is contrary to the plain terms of KHRC regulations and is void as arbitrary and capricious." They also argue that KHRC’s exercise of rule making and adjudicatory powers is illegal and that the penalties against Zedan “are unconstitutional, arbitrary and capricious."