Medina Spirit

Medina Spirit won his first career race Dec. 11, 2020, at Los Alamitos, pulling away to a three-length score for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. He made his 3-year-old bow Jan. 2 in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes and rallied willingly late to finish second by three-quarters of a length to stablemate Life Is Good. The Protonico colt earned four points toward qualifying for the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

Medina Spirit earned his first graded stakes win on Jan. 30 at Santa Anita Park, winning the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes in a game performance. He set the early pace, then held off some late challenges to prevail in a photo finish. 

In his final start before the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit finished second in the Grade 1 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby. He rated three-wide off early leader Rock Your World, but could not get by as that one drew off. Medina Spirit earned 40 more qualifying points with that performance. 

On May 1, Medina Spirit gave Bob Baffert his seventh win in the In the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve, setting the early pace and holding off several late challenges to win in 2:01.02. His victory was subsequently thrown into doubt after Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone, a corticosteroid, which is illegal on raceday in Kentucky.

Medina Spirit finished third in the Preakness Stakes on May 15 and then took over three months off as more tests were conducted and attorneys for Medina Spirit’s owner and trainer challenged the presence of betamethasone and how it got into the horse’s blood. On Aug. 29, Medina Spirit made his first start since the Preakness a winning one, taking the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar by 1 ¼ lengths over his Santa Anita Derby vanquisher Rock Your World.

Medina Spirit was entered in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 25, but was withdrawn from that race in favor of the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes on Oct. 2. He made his return to his home state a winning one, as he set the early pace and drew off to win by five lengths. With that win, Medina Spirit ensured a spot in the starting gate for the Grade 1 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar on Nov. 6, as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" series. 

In the Classic, Medina Spirit rated wide and off the pace. While he could not catch the winner, Knicks Go, he held off the rest of his rivals and finished second.

On Dec. 6, 2021, at Santa Anita Park, Medina Spirit died on the track at Santa Anita Park after morning exercise due to an apparent heart attack. 

On Feb. 21, 2022, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission issued a ruling disqualifying Medina Spirit from first place in the 2021 Kentucky Derby, elevating Mandaloun to the winner.