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The dark bay colt's win in May's Run for the Roses at Churchill
Downs had delivered Baffert a record seventh win in North
America's most prestigious race until a post-race sample found
betamethasone, a corticosteroid.
The test result led to a protracted battle between Baffert and
the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that ended with Monday's
ruling, which suspends Baffert from March 8 to June 5 and will
keep him out of this year's Kentucky Derby. He was also fined
$7,500.
Baffert has sought to draw a distinction between injectable
betamethasone and betamethasone that is absorbed through an
ointment, which is how he believes the drug entered into the
colt's system.
"I am very disappointed in the ruling," Baffert told Reuters in
a statement via his lawyer.
"It runs contrary to the scientifically proven facts in this
case and the rules of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission. We
will be filing an immediate appeal."
Baffert, one of the best known trainers in the world, has come
under scrutiny from state horse racing regulators in recent
years after some of the horses in his stables tested positive
for banned substances.
Medina Spirit raced again at the Preakness Stakes in mid-May and
finished third, but was banned from the Belmont Stakes, the
final leg of U.S. thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.
He died of a heart attack following a workout at a California
racetrack in early December.
After the steward's ruling was handed down, Churchill Downs
congratulated Mandaloun, the colt who had crossed the line
second, and his trainer Brad Cox and jockey Florent Geroux on
the win.
"Winning the Kentucky Derby is one of the most exciting
achievements in sports and we look forward to celebrating
Mandaloun on a future date in a way that is fitting of this rare
distinction," Churchill Downs said in a statement.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Christian
Radnedge)
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