Medina Spirit's next start remains undetermined

ARCADIA, Calif. - Medina Spirit was shipped to trainer Bob Baffert’s base at Santa Anita late last week, days after a third-place finish in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 15, and far from the international scrutiny that has followed the colt’s medication-overage test after a win in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 1.

There are no immediate race plans for Medina Spirit, Baffert said on Sunday.

“He’s just walking right now,” Baffert said during a brief interview during morning training. “He lost a little bit of weight. We’re getting him back going.”

Medina Spirit showed an excessive level of betamethasone in a post-race test, and could be disqualified from the Kentucky Derby win, pending the result of a second test. It is not clear when the results of the second test will be announced. A confirmation of the initial test could lead to sanctions, such as a fine or suspension, against Hall of Famer Baffert, pending a hearing in Kentucky.

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The Preakness was Medina’s Spirit’s sixth start of 2021.

On Saturday, before a small ontrack crowd of 3,644 at Santa Anita, Baffert’s stable recorded its first stakes win since the Kentucky Derby when 2-5 As Time Goes By held off a sustained challenge by 23-1 This Tea to win the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares by a nose for her second consecutive stakes win.

“We needed a little uplifting,” Baffert said Sunday.

As Time Goes By won the Grade 2 Santa Margarita Stakes at 1 1/8 miles by 9 1/4 lengths over This Tea on April 24. In the $196,000 Santa Maria, As Time Goes By led by a length with a furlong remaining under Mike Smith, and was tested by This Tea, who was ridden by Kent Desormeaux.

“That mare was not going to let her get by,” Baffert said of As Time Goes By. “Desormeaux rode a perfect race.”

As Time Goes By is likely to stay in Southern California this summer. Baffert has been denied racing privileges at Churchill Downs and New York Racing Association tracks in recent weeks, following Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby test result.

One potential summer race for As Time Goes By is the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on Aug. 1. The winner of the $300,000 Hirsch Stakes receives a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 6.

In coming days, Baffert will have runners in two major stakes on dirt at Santa Anita – Eight Rings and Triple Tap are candidates for Saturday’s Grade 2 Triple Bend Stakes at seven furlongs, while Country Grammer is being pointed to the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 31.

Through Sunday, Baffert led all trainers at the winter-spring meeting with 15 stakes wins, one more than Phil D’Amato. Baffert holds the single-season record of 16 stakes wins, set in the 1998-99 meeting. The current meeting ends on June 20.