Medina Spirit Clears First Test For Preakness Stakes

The 2021 Kentucky Derby Winner ‘Medina Spirit’ has cleared the first of three tests prior to tomorrow’s Preakness Stakes. The colt underwent three rounds of blood-sample testing between May 6th to the 11th and the first shows he was clear of both prohibited and therapeutic substances. He still needs two more negative tests to race in the Preakness and those results will be available later today. The Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the triple crown  and the Belmont Stakes follows, which will be held on June 5th.

Medina Spirit is the cause of recent controversy after failing a post race drug test following the Kentucky Derby with betamethasone in it’s system. Trainer Bob Baffert was suspended from races at Churchill Downs as a result. Baffert has three horses set to participate in races this weekend with Medina Spirit and Concert Tour in the Preakness and Beautiful Gift in today’s Black Eyed Susan Stakes. Each of Baffert’s horses will have to clear 3 tests to participate, the first samples from Concert Tour and Beautiful Gift were also cleared.