Justify Santa Anita Derby hearing set for this month

A hearing into Justify's positive post-race test in the 2018 Santa Anita Derby is set to go ahead on October 29 after a judge denied a legal effort to halt the process.

After Justify's victory at Santa Anita his sample was found to contain scopolamine, a prohibited substance. However, officials opted not to call a positive finding and disqualify the horse, believing it was caused by environmental contamination. Justify went on to win the US Triple Crown and retire unbeaten.

The California Horse Racing Board hearing also will look at Hoppertunity, who had scopolamine in his post-race test after winning the 2018 Tokyo City Cup Stakes at Santa Anita, one day after the Santa Anita Derby.

Bob Baffert, who trained Hoppertunity and Justify, has said that neither horse was administered scopolamine.

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