#US RACING: ALL DRUG SAMPLES FOR KENTUCKY DERBY AND OAKS NEGATIVE

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission said Monday that it has received laboratory results from post-race samples taken on Friday and Saturday at Churchill Downs, including for the Kentucky Derby and Oaks.

The KHRC said all samples for both days were cleared.

"The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) has received laboratory results from post-race samples taken on May 6, and May 7, 2022 at Churchill Downs," the commission's statement said. "All samples for both days were cleared. This includes the post-race samples from The Kentucky Oaks and The Kentucky Derby."

Last year around this time, Medina Spirit was found to have been administered the anti-inflammatory betamethasone prior to crossing the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby. That led to a disqualification of Medina Spirit and suspension of trainer Bob Baffert, along with a long legal battle.

Baffert began a 90-day suspension on April 4, with many of the horses in his care being transferred to other trainers. Two of them, Messier and Taiba, competed in the 2022 Derby under their new trainer, Tim Yakteen.

Medina Spirit died in December after a workout at Santa Anita. No cause of death was determined, though a report by the California Horse Racing Board listed “sudden cardiorespiratory arrest/ cardiac failure” as suspected causes of the fatality.