Horse Owner Bob Baffert Under Fire After Kentucky Derby Winner Medina Spirit Suddenly Dies

Controversial horse owner Bob Baffert is under fire on Monday morning.

Baffert is best known for his most recent scandal involving 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit. It was announced shortly after the win that the team was being stripped of the trophy due to an illegal injection of steroids.

On Monday, it was announced that Medina Spirit has suddenly passed away following a workout.

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Kentucky Derby first place finisher Medina Spirit suffered a sudden death after working five furlongs this morning at Santa Anita, Dr. Jeff Blea, @caCHRB equine medical director, has confirmed.

— Ray Paulick (@raypaulick) December 6, 2021

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Bob Baffert was immediately blamed for handling Medina Spirit in an unethical manner.

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I’ve bet a lot of money on this sport. I love horse racing but enough is enough. Until Bob Baffert is suspended and licenses are revoked then I am from this moment not betting a single dollar on horse racing. Medina Spirit deserved better

— Cameron Roberts (@CDRCam) December 6, 2021

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I'm heartbroken to learn that Kentucky Derby winner (later disqualified under suspicious circumstances), Medina Spirit died of a heart attack this morning while training.

A FULL INVESTIGATION OF BOB BAFFERT NEEDS TO BE DONE IMMEDIATELY.

He is the CANCER of the sport!!!!

— Game Hunter (@MrGameHunter) December 6, 2021

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I told my wife that Medina Spirt died this morning of a heart attack….. Her answer “Bob Baffert is a cheating bastard!”

— Joey (@JoeyAnselmini) December 6, 2021

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It’s not the track it’s Bob killing the horse after the test came back negative so he don’t lose his license

— 😉 (@Alex68258987) December 6, 2021

Bob Baffert and his team have maintained that Medina Spirit was not injected with steroids. But rather that a skin ointment caused the positive test.

“In other words, it has now been scientifically proven that what Bob Baffert said from the beginning was true – Medina Spirit was never injected with betamethasone and the findings following the Kentucky Derby were solely the result of the horse being treated for a skin condition by way of a topical ointment – all at the direction of Medina Spirit’s veterinarian,” W. Craig Robertson III, Baffert’s attorney, said in a statement.

It’s still not clear if a separate investigation into Bob Baffert will take place after the death of Medina Spirit.

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