Prosecutors in the Medina Spirit disqualification case are poised to provide additional scientific evidence to the Kentucky Equestrian Commission that Dr. George Maylin’s opinion about betamethasone was found in the following blood samples the race was flawed, but assuming fire retardant was used, it was applied in much larger quantities than prescribed.
Based on separation test results showing Class C substance, the managers disqualified Medina Spirit from his victory in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Unless the decision is overturned by KHRC or a court, this decision will cost Amr Zedan owner $1.86 million in wallet money and the honor of owning the Derby winner. Medina Spirit dies on track at Santa Anita . Park on December 6. Managers fined coach Bob Baffert $7,500 and handed him a 90-day suspension that he served after unsuccessful legal attempts to get a stay. The coach has served his full time and his suspension expired in early July.
Thus, the big issue at the KHRC hearing, scheduled to begin on August 22, is the wallet.
The KHRC’s list of expert witnesses now includes Dr Scott Stanley, whose reporting letter describes him as Keeneland’s Distinguished Professor and Director of both the Equine and Foundational Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. core Mass Spectrometry Research at the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The UC Davis website says he is Professor Emeritus of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System.
Stanley’s report, made available to BloodHorse after an open-file request, was highly critical of the conclusions of Maylin, Director of the New York Drug Trials & Research Program. Maylin, who said he was an independent expert working for neither party to the dispute, concluded in a December 3, 2021 reporting letter and an affidavit two months later that the outcome positive for betamethasone from topical use of Otomax, a medicinal drug, not an injection.
According to Stanley, Maylin’s laboratory techniques cast “substantial skepticism” about the validity of the extraction method and the acquisition of the instrument used to determine betamethasone and its esters leading to results scientist’s opinion.
BloodHorse had previously reported on two other experts who had issued strongly worded report letters criticizing Maylin’s methodology and conclusions.
DOWNEY: Blast Maylin Experts Study Positive Medina Spirit
One of those experts is Dr. Mark Papich, professor of clinical pharmacy at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine and past president of the American College of Veterinary Medicine.
In a July 26 letter that expands on his initial observations, Papich wrote that there is what he considers a “difference” between the amount of Otomax prescribed for Medina Spirit and the amount applied. use, based on his assessment of prescriptions written by Dr. Vince. Baker and the July 23 testimony about Medina Spirit’s groom, Rolando Cruz.
Before the Derby on 1 May, “On two occasions, (4/9m and 19/4/2021) a 30 gram tube of Otomax was prescribed with instructions for the use of 90 mg once daily (‘sid’) to the child. Medina Spirit horse,” wrote Papich. He then noted that the actual amount administered was significantly larger than the regulation.
“Mr Cruz testified that Medina Spirit was used about 1/2 bottle of Otomax between April 9 and April 30. Each bottle contained 30 grams of Otomax. Therefore, I calculated that the average dose was The average dose for Medina Spirit is around 45 grams. 21 days, or about 2.14 grams per day. This is about 24 times higher than a veterinarian-prescribed treatment,” Papich wrote.
