Justify faces possible Santa Anita Derby disqualification for banned substance

US Triple Crown winner Justify faces potential disqualification from the 2018 Santa Anita Derby after a settlement agreement was broadly reached between the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) and Mick Ruis, who saddled Bolt D'Oro to finish second in the Grade 1.

Ruis filed a lawsuit against the CHRB earlier this year after Justify, who went on to capture the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes after his win at Santa Anita, was revealed to have tested positive for the banned substance scopolamine.

The test result was uncovered by the New York Times last year, with officials at the CHRB taking no action against Justify despite California having a rule at the time which stated horses testing positive for such a substance must be disqualified.

The CHRB contended that it conducted an investigation into the positive test and determined that the horse accidentally ingested scopolamine, which can be found in the common plant jimson weed, as part of its feed and had dismissed the case.

Bob Baffert: trained 2018 US Triple Crown winner Justify

However, on Friday, Ruis's attorney Darrell Vienna said in a press release that the CHRB approved the outlines of the settlement agreement at a recent closed session and a disqualification hearing would take place as a part of that.

Ruis told Bloodhorse.com: "It is only fair that the current CHRB voted to finally have a hearing related to the Justify matter. This settlement would be a major step toward restoring public confidence in the CHRB.

"I wanted to stand up for what's right and to make sure that every horseman, from the little guy to Bob Baffert, is treated fairly and equally. I commend the current CHRB for reviewing this matter and look forward to concluding negotiations regarding a public hearing."

Mike Marten, a spokesman for the CHRB, said the board considers the lawsuit to still be active because a final agreement has not been signed.

He said: "Because it is ongoing litigation, the CHRB has no further comment."

Justify, trained by Bob Baffert and owned by the China Horse Club, Winstar Farm, Head Of Plains Syndicate and Starlight Racing, was unbeaten in six starts between February and June 2018 before sustaining an injury and retiring to Coolmore at the end of the year.

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