Post Time: Approximately 6:47 pm ET
TV Schedule: NBC 5:00 pm ET to 7:00 pm ET
The horse racing world is currently in absolute chaos after the Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit tested positive for Betamethasone, a therapeutic medication. Bob Baffert, the trainer of Medina Spirit has been involved in several doping scandals before so it really isn’t a surprise. Baffert originally came out with a statement claiming the drug was not administered, then changed his stance to it was consumed by the horse from contaminated hay, and then finally admitted they gave the horse an ointment that contained the substance. Betamethasone is a class C drug that is allowed by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission but must be out of the horses system 14 days prior to race day. When the blood sample was pulled after the race the horse contained 21 picograms which was over the previous allowable picograms of 10, but was changed to 0 back in August. Baffert, has two horses in this race Medina Spirit and Concert Tour both who were questionable to be admitted after the Derby scandal, but are allowed to race.
Field:
- Ram (Ricardo Stantana Jr), 30-1
- Keepmeinmind (David Cohn), 15-1
- Medina Spirit (John Velazquez), 9-5
- Crowded Trade (Javier Castellano), 10-1
- Midnight Bourbon (Irad Ortiz Jr.), 5-1
- Rombauer (Flavian Prat), 12-1
- France Go De Ina (Joel Rosario), 20-1
- Unbridled Honor (Luis Saez), 15-1
- Risk Taking (Jose Ortiz), 15-1
- Concert Tour, (Mike Smith), 5-2
Preview:
Medina Spirit comes into the race as the well earned (I say this ignoring the fact that he was administered an illegal substance) favorite after a win in the Kentucky Derby. He came out and set a great pace leading from wire to wire running his career best Equibase speed figure of 111. He got a favorable break which allowed him to run the race he was hoping for according to jockey John Velazquez. It will be interesting to see if he can grab the lead in this race with all of the early spread headlined by his stablemate Concert Tour. Concert Tour was held out of the Kentucky Derby after a disappointing third place finish in the Arkansas Derby. He started his career by winning his first three races including Rebel Stakes. The veteran Mike Smith gets his first ride on this horse with the outside post position. It’ll be likely that Smith tries to get him out front early to challenge Medina Spirit. If both Medina Spirit and Concert Tour push the pace it could hurt both of these horses chances of winning opening it up for some horses who have a running style of off the pace. Two horses who have a shot if this happens are stablemates in Risk Taking and Crowded Trade. Both of these horses have great jockeys on them in Jose Ortiz and Javier Castellano. Risk Taking misfired in his last race in the Wood Memorial after running winning the Withers Stakes. However, his trainer has been encouraged by his progress and he should have a chance here. Crowded Trade took third in the Wood Memorial behind two derby entrants who finished 13th and 18th. I don’t necessarily think this horse can win the race given his speed figures and pedigree, but he should be used in exotic wagers (trifectas & superfectas). Midnight Bourbon didn’t have a great showing in the Kentucky Derby by any means finishing sixth but his trip definitely had something to do with it as he was pushed wide. If he can get a better break and positioning coming into the final turn, he has a shot here to compete.
Picks:
Win: #10 Concert Tour (5-2), $10
Win: #5 Midnight Bourbon (5-1), $10
Win: #9 Risk Taking (15-1), $10
Exacta Box: #10, #5, #9, $2 -> $12 Total
Exacta Box: #10, #4, #9, $2 -> $12 Total
Exacta Box: #10, #2, #7, $2 -> $12 Total
Risk Total: $66
Be careful with playing the Trifectas and Superfectas at Pimlico. They have a takeout of 25%, one of the highest out of any track.
