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Medina Spirit
BreedThoroughbred
SireProtonico
GrandsireGiant's Causeway
DamMongolian Changa
DamsireBrilliant Speed
SexStallion
Foaled(2018-04-05)April 5, 2018
(Ocala, Florida, U.S.)
DiedDecember 6, 2021(2021-12-06) (aged 3)
(Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, California, U.S.)
CountryUnited States
ColorDark bay
BreederGail Rice
OwnerZedan Racing Stables, Inc.
TrainerBob Baffert
JockeyJohn R. Velazquez
Record10: 5–4–1
Earnings$3,545,200

Medina Spirit (April 5, 2018 – December 6, 2021) was a Thoroughbred racehorse whose first-place finish at the 2021 Kentucky Derby was later TKTK. He was bred by Gail Rice's Thoroughbred farm in Ocala, Florida, and was purchased by Amr Zedan in 2020.

Background

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Medina Spirit was a dark bay Thoroughbred colt with a faint star on his forehead and no other white markings.[1][2] His sire Protonico won seven races in his lifetime, including four graded stakes races, while his dam, Mongolian Changa, was mostly unraced.[3] She made six starts before suffering a bowed tendon and retiring as a broodmare.[4] Medina Spirit's grandsire Giant's Causeway finished second in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic, and his damsire, Brilliant Speed, was the third-place horse at the 2011 Belmont Stakes and finished seventh at the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Through Giant's Causeway, Medina Spirit was also related to Bricks and Mortar, who won 11 of his 13 races in 2019, and Carpe Diem, the tenth-place finisher in the 2016 Kentucky Derby.[5]

Gail Rice bred and foaled Medina Spirit at her Thoroughbred farm in Ocala, Florida, and he was born at 2 p.m. (EST) on April 5, 2018.[6] Rice was not a major breeder; she had started working in the field in 2009 after being gifted a mare by a friend. Her husband Wayne had purchased Mongolian Changa as a yearling for $9,000 USD. Rice then bred the mare with Protonico, then a stud at Taylor Made Farm, at a $6,500 cost.[7] Mongolian Changa's milk did not develop properly, and so Medina Spirit was bottle-fed colostrum from a frozen bottle of milk produced by Rice's other broodmare, Scribbling Sarah. A few hours after delivery, Mongolian Changa began to produce her own milk.[8] Although he was the last to be born, Medina Spirit was the largest of Rice's foals that season, and he was known to play rough with the others in his paddock.[9]

Gail and Wayne Rice divorced in 2019, and Gail, who was worried about the cost of feeding her horses, put Medina Spirit up for sale at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company 2019 Winter Mixed Sale.[7][10] Christy Whitman of Whitman Sales purchased Medina Spirit at the Winter Mixed Sale for $1,000 with the intention of re-selling him as a two-year-old.[11] Whitman was the only one to bid on Medina Spirit, who presented well physically at the sale but had difficulty attracting offers due to his weak pedigree. At the Under Tack Show as part of the OBS 2020 June Sale, Medina Spirit ran three furlongs in 33 seconds, impressing Gary Young, who was at the sale on behalf of Amr Zedan.[5] Zedan was a friend of Protonico's owner, Oussama Aboughazale, and had received a call from Aboughazale to inspect his stud's colt. Impressed by what he saw, he paid $35,000 to acquire Medina Spirit from Whitman.[12] Aboughazale named the horse Medina Spirit after Zedan's birthplace, the Saudi Arabian city Medina. Zedan added "Spirit" both because Medina is considered a holy place in Islam and as a reference to one of the horse's forebears, Alpha Spirit.[13]

After purchase, Zedan sent Medina Spirit to Mike Marlow, an assistant trainer to Bob Baffert. Marlow had low expectations for the colt, and was impressed in training that he was able to compete against horses with stronger pedigrees. After some time, Marlow sent Medina Spirit directly to Baffert, who continued to train him with his other crop of racing prospects.[14] Originally Medina Spirit was meant to train for the Saudi Cup, but after watching him at the training grounds, Baffert decided to prepare him for a Kentucky Derby run.[15] Baffert later compared Medina Spirit to Silver Charm, his first Kentucky Derby winner, telling reporters, "His heart is bigger than his body. When he turned for home, something just told me."[16]

Racing career

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2020: Two-year-old season

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Medina Spirit made his track debut in a maiden race over five and a half furlongs on the dirt surface at Los Alamitos Race Course on December 11. Ridden by Abel Castillo, he started with 12–5 odds against eight opponents. He took a short lead over Sensemaker at the 3⁄8 mark before kicking clear and finishing in first place with a time of 1:02.93, three lengths ahead of second-place finisher First Class Dad.[17]

2021: Three-year-old season

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Medina Spirit followed his maiden race with an appearance in the Sham Stakes at Santa Anita Park on January 2, 2021. His 6–1 morning line odds were third among individual entries, behind Parnelli and the heavy favorite Life is Good, another Baffert horse.[18] A Grade III race, it was the graded stakes debut for both Baffert horses.[19] The race took place on an eight-furlong dirt track at 4:09 p.m. (PST) under cloudy skies. Medina Spirit broke from the gate first, but he was overtaken by Life is Good at the 1⁄4 mark and could not regain the lead.[20] Trailing by four lengths for the majority of the race, he closed the gap in the final stretch, finishing only 3⁄4 of a length behind Life is Good.[21] Ridden once again by Abel Cedillo, Medina Spirit also finished 13 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Parnelli.[22] Medina Spirit gained four points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby for his second-place finishin the Sham Stakes,[23] and despite his loss, his Beyer Speed Figure increased from 76 in his maiden race to 99 in the Sham.[19]

Although less experienced than many of his competitors, Medina Spirit's performance in the Sham Stakes made him the front-runner for the Robert B. Lewis Stakes on January 30, with 5-2 morning line odds in his favor.[24] The race was run on an eight-and-a-half-furlong dirt track under clear skies at 3:38 p.m. (PST) on January 30, 2021, at Santa Anita Park.[25] Medina Spirit narrowly maintained a lead throughout the race, with Roman Centurian and Hot Rod Charlie keeping pace with him into a three-way photo finish.[26][27] He was declared the winner by a neck, with an unusually slow race time of 1:46.26, caused in part by the track, which had suffered under heavy rain the day before.[26] Baffert was impressed by the horse's victory, telling reporters after the race, "He was gutty as could be, showed some grit, and that's what you want to see."[27] He also compared Medina Spirit's performance to that of Silver Charm, who won both the 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.[28] His first-place finish awarded Medina Spirit 10 more Derby points, putting him at 14 total.[29]

Medina Spirit's next race was the San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park, his first Grade II race. It was also the first time that Medina Spirit was jockeyed by John R. Velazquez, who was coming off of a Kentucky Derby win on Authentic.[30] He was the second-choice favorite for the Stakes, with 7-2 odds compared to Life is Good's 4-5 morning line.[31] The San Felipe Stakes took place on March 6, 2021, at 2:50 p.m. (PST) in clear conditions, on an eight-and-a-half-furlong dirt track.[32] Life is Good had an unbroken lead throughout the race, finishing eight lengths ahead of Medina Spirit, who was briefly passed by Dream Shake on the second turn but retook his position and finished 2+1⁄4 lengths ahead of the other horse.[33] The higher-graded stakes awarded Medina Spirit 20 Derby points for his second-place finish, placing him fifth on the leaderboard with 34 overall points.[33] Two weeks after the San Felipe Stakes, Medina Spirit underwent a minor throat surgery to repair an entrapped epiglottis and correct his breathing.[34]

The last race Medina Spirit ran before the Kentucky Derby was the Santa Anita Derby, his first Grade I race. None of the 10 horses in the field had previously started a G1 stakes.[35] The race took place at 4:17 p.m. on April 3, 2021, on a nine-furlong dirt track in Santa Anita Park.[36] Medina Spirit was the even money favorite for the race, but was upset by dark horse competitor Rock Your World, who was making his dirt track debut after two turf races. Medina Spirit fell to second by 4+1⁄4 lengths, with Dream Shake placing third. [37] Despite the loss, Medina Spirit received 40 Derby points for his second-place finish, clinching a berth in the 2021 Kentucky Derby.[38]

Kentucky Derby

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Main article: 2021 Kentucky Derby

Medina Spirit was the only Baffert-trained horse to race in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, as both Concert Tour and Life is Good had been scratched prior to the race.[39] Life is Good, projected to be Baffert's top Derby contender, withdrew on March 21 after suffering a workout injury,[40] while Baffert announced on April 17 that Concert Tour would wait until the Preakness Stakes, skipping the Derby.[41]

Steroid scandal

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One week after winning the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, an anti-inflammatory corticosteroid. Betamethasone is allowed in horse racing in trace quantities, but the 21 pg/mL concentration found in Medina Spirit's blood sample was more than twice the limit allowed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.[42]

Preakness Stakes

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Following the bethamethasone scandal that had plagued Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby victory, the horse was allowed to enter in the 2021 Preakness Stakes provided he cleared additional levels of drug testing and monitoring.[43] While the horse awaited the results of this additional testing, Baffert announced that he would not be in attendance at Pimlico Race Course for the Preakness, and that he would be represented instead by assistant Jimmy Barnes.[44] Three days later, the Maryland Jockey Club and Maryland Racing Commission announced that Medina Spirit had passed all three rounds of pre-race drug testing and was cleared to appear in the Preakness.[45]

Belmont Stakes and later career

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On May 17, 2021, the New York Racing Association prohibited Baffert from entering any of his horses, including Medina Spirit, into the 2021 Belmont Stakes and all other races in the state of New York until the investigation into Medina Spirit's failed drug test concluded.[46] Baffert filed a lawsuit against the NYRA on June 14, alleging that the suspension occurred without due notice and did not specify duration or other terms, including which New York state laws or regulations he may have violated.[47]

  • Shared Belief Stakes
  • Awesome Again Stakes
  • Breeders' Cup Classic

Death

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At 7:45 a.m. (PST) on December 6, 2021,[48] Medina Spirit collapsed on the track after completing a five-furlong workout at Santa Anita Park.[49] His rider attempted to revive him, but by the time veterinarians arrived on the scene, the horse was pronounced dead.[50] Early indications suggested that Medina Spirit had suffered a fatal myocardial infarction, but blood, hair, and urine samples were taken at the scene and sent to the California Horse Racing Board and the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in order to conduct a full necroscopy.[51] Baffert released a statement following Medina Spirit's death, saying that his "entire barn is devastated by this news", and referring to the horse as "a great champion, a member of our family who was loved by all".[52]

Racing statistics

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Date Age Distance * Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Trainer Owner Ref.
Dec 11, 2020 2 5+1⁄2 furlongs Maiden Special Weight Maiden Los Alamitos 3.40 1:02.93 9 1 3 lengths Abel Cedillo Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. Ref.
3 Distance Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. Ref.
3 Distance Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. Ref.
3 Distance Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. Ref.
3 Distance Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. Ref.
3 Distance Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. Ref.
3 Distance Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. Ref.
3 Distance Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. Ref.
3 Distance Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. Ref.
Nov 6, 2021 3 10 furlongs Breeders' Cup Classic I Del Mar 6.80 1:59.57 10 2 (2+3⁄4 lengths) John R. Velazquez Bob Baffert Zedan Racing Stables, Inc. Ref.

Pedigree

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ Frakes, Jason (April 16, 2021). "Medina Spirit: What to know about 2021 Kentucky Derby horse's jockey, trainer and more". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Flatter, Ron (May 15, 2021). "Medina spirit will race in Preakness, maybe". Vegas Stats & Information Network. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  3. ^ Robinson, Cameron Teague (May 1, 2021). "Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, son of Protonico, has winning deep in bloodline". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  4. ^ Sherack, Steve (May 1, 2021). "Medina Spirit Gives Baffert a Record-Breaking Seventh Derby". Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Johnson, Danielle (May 3, 2021). "Ocala-bred Medina Spirit brought heart, athleticism to Derby despite light pedigree". Star-Banner. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  6. ^ Culpepper, Chuck (May 8, 2021). "The origin story of Medina Spirit, a Derby winner born on a patch of Florida dirt and sold for $1,000". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Clay, John (May 4, 2021). "Meet the breeder who sold the Kentucky Derby winner for $1,000. And is thrilled". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  8. ^ Hackbarth, Chelsea (April 20, 2021). "Breeders' Cup Presents Connections: $1,000 Derby Dreams Ignite For Breeder Gail Rice". Paulick Report. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  9. ^ Reilly, Kelly (April 28, 2021). "Tales from the Crib: Medina Spirit". Kentucky Derby. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Forde, Pat (May 12, 2021). "For Medina Spirit's Breeder, Heading to the Preakness Stakes Is a Bittersweet Affair". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  11. ^ Daugherty, Meredith (May 3, 2021). "Medina Spirit a Diamond in the Rough for Whitman". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  12. ^ Clay, John (May 2, 2021). "Zedan Racing Stable's mere $35,000 purchase delivers a Kentucky Derby dream". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  13. ^ Blackford, Linda (April 30, 2021). "What's in a name? For horses in the Kentucky Derby, quite a lot of pressure". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  14. ^ Cherwa, John (February 8, 2021). "Horse racing newsletter: Stewards have an easy week". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  15. ^ Cherwa, John (December 7, 2021). "What is Medina Spirit's legacy following his sudden death? The answer is uncertain". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  16. ^ Oswald, Jessie (May 1, 2021). "Medina Spirit gives Baffert record 7th Kentucky Derby win". The Tribune-Democrat. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  17. ^ "Los Alamitos Race Course – December 11, 2020 – Race 6". Equibase. December 11, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference sham was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ a b Andersen, Steve (January 3, 2021). "Life Is Good, Medina Spirit have Baffert thinking Kentucky Derbuy". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  20. ^ Santa Anita Park – January 2, 2021 – Race 8 (Report). Equibase. January 2, 2021. p. 8. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  21. ^ Reilly, Kellie (January 2, 2021). "Life Is Good wires Sham as Medina Spirit makes it interesting late". Brisnet. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  22. ^ Willman, Mike (January 2, 2021). "Heavy Favorite Life Is Good Wins Sham But Baffert Stablemate Medina Spirit Made It Close". Paulick Report. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  23. ^ "Life Is Good, Medina Spirit Exit Sham in Good Form". The Blood-Horse. January 3, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  24. ^ King, Byron (January 28, 2021). "Baffert, O'Neill 3-Year-Olds Vie in Robert Lewis Stakes". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  25. ^ Santa Anita Park – January 30, 2021 – Race 7 (Report). Equibase. January 30, 2021. p. 7. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  26. ^ a b King, Byron (January 30, 2021). "Medina Spirit Narrowly Lands Robert B. Lewis". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Medina Spirit Exits Robert B. Lewis in Good Order". The Blood-Horse. January 31, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  28. ^ Cherwa, John (January 30, 2021). "Medina Spirit gives Bob Baffert another win in Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  29. ^ Reilly, Kellie (January 31, 2021). "Medina Spirit all heart in Robert B. Lewis". Kentucky Derby. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  30. ^ "Medina Spirit to Join Life Is Good in San Felipe Stakes". The Blood-Horse. February 27, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  31. ^ Wilson, Art (March 5, 2021). "San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita could run all the way to Kentucky". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  32. ^ Santa Anita Park – March 6, 2021 – Race 6 (Report). Equibase. March 6, 2021. p. 6. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  33. ^ a b King, Byron (March 6, 2021). "Life Is Good Romps Over Medina Spirit in San Felipe". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  34. ^ Privman, Jay (March 22, 2021). "Medina Spirit, Rock Your World work for Santa Anita Derby". Daily Racing Forum. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  35. ^ Gantz, Tracy (April 1, 2021). "Medina Spirit Aims for Grade 1 in Santa Anita Derby". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  36. ^ Santa Anita Park – April 3, 2021 – Race 8 (Report). Equibase. April 3, 2021. p. 8. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  37. ^ Gantz, Tracy (April 3, 2021). "Rock Your World Posts Easy Santa Anita Derby Score". The Blood-Horse. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  38. ^ Cherwa, John (April 3, 2021). "Rock Your World rolls to Santa Anita Derby victory in debut on dirt". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  39. ^ Taddeo, Frankie (April 23, 2021). "2021 Kentucky Derby: Early Betting Profiles & Analysis". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  40. ^ Frakes, Jason (March 21, 2021). "Baffert confirms unbeaten Life is Good out of Kentucky Derby, off Triple Crown trail". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  41. ^ Frakes, Jason (April 17, 2021). "Concert Tour won't run in Kentucky Derby; Essential Quality, Mandaloun breeze for Cox". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  42. ^ Andone, Dakin; Dotson, Kevin; Marin, Cesar (May 9, 2021). "Medina Spirit's Kentucky Derby win in doubt after failing postrace drug test". CNN. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  43. ^ "Preakness officials allow Medina Spirit to enter with extra testing". Sportsnet. Associated Press. May 11, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  44. ^ Wilkin, Tim (May 11, 2021). "Embattled trainer Baffert to skip Preakness, insists Derby winner Medina Spirit will run". Times Union. Albany, NY. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  45. ^ Walker, Childs (May 14, 2021). "Medina Spirit clear to run in 2021 Preakness Stakes after passing second wave of drug tests". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  46. ^ "Trainer Bob Baffert suspended from entering Medina Spirit, other horses at Belmont Park". ESPN. May 17, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  47. ^ "Bob Baffert, trainer of Medina Spirit, sues New York Racing Association over suspension". ESPN. Associated Press. June 14, 2021. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
  48. ^ Cherwa, John (December 6, 2021). "2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit dies after workout at Santa Anita". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  49. ^ "Bob Baffert-trained Thoroughbred Medina Spirit, the 2021 Kentucky Derby winner, dies after collapsing post-workout". ESPN. Associated Press. December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  50. ^ Drape, Joe (December 6, 2021). "Medina Spirit, an Embattled Kentucky Derby Winner, Dies During a Workout". The New York Times. Retrieved December 6, 2021.
  51. ^ Frakes, Jason (December 6, 2021). "Disputed Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit dies after workout". The Courier Journal. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  52. ^ Chan, Stella; Mossburg, Cheri; Sterling, Wayne (December 6, 2021). "Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit dies at Santa Anita". CNN. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
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