Medina Spirit clears all rounds of pre-race testing ahead of Preakness

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit has passed three pre-race tests required for his participation in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico.

On Thursday, the Stronach Group announced Medina Spirit had cleared the first of three tests. Results from the other two tests, taken days after the first sample were made available on Friday.

The tests, also required for Preakness contender Concert Tour, were part of an entry agreement for Bob Baffert after Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit tested positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone after the Kentucky Derby.

According to Baffert, the horse was treated for dermatitis with a topical medication, Otomax, which contains betamethasone.

Bob Baffert: says Medina Spirit's positive test may have resulted from medication he was being given at the time to treat dermatitisCredit: Mario Tama

The trainer said he did not realize the ointment contained the drug until May 10, soon after he began an investigation into what might have led to the positive test.

An investigation by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission is pending into the positive. Baffert has requested a split-sample test to confirm the overage.

Meanwhile, Churchill Downs has suspended Baffert's racing privileges and will not accept horses conditioned by the trainer until the KHRC investigation is concluded.

Two of the three tests required of Baffert trainees were sent to Industrial Laboratories in Colorado, another to the University of California at Davis Maddy Laboratory.

"Consistent with the fair procedures and practices established by 1/ST Racing and the Maryland Jockey Club, the additional tests and monitoring were conducted as part of the rigorous condition of entry agreement to ensure the fairness and integrity of the races with horses entered by Bob Baffert," read a TSG/1ST Racing release issued late Friday afternoon.

"All horses entered in both the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the 146th Preakness Stakes will remain under veterinary observation and security surveillance."

Read more on this subject:

Baffert: Kentucky Derby winner's positive test down to treatment for dermatitis

Kentucky Derby winner under scrutiny after positive post-race test

Bob Baffert vows to prevent further positive tests after 'difficult' year

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