Preakness Allows Medina Spirit Under 'Rigorous Conditions'

Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit will be allowed to race in the Preakness Stakes this weekend, officials announced Tuesday.

In a drug test administered after the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit tested positive for 21 picograms of betamethasone that trainer Bob Baffert previously denied the horse was ever treated with, Fox News reports.

Baffert provided an explanation for the result on Tuesday and backed off his "cancel culture" theory.

"Following the Santa Anita Derby, developed dermatitis on his hind end," Baffert statement read, per Fox News. "I had him checked out by my veterinarian who recommended the use of an anti-fungal ointment called Otomax. The veterinary recommendation was to apply this ointment daily to give the horse relief, help heal the dermatitis, and prevent it from spreading."

Baffert said his barn followed the recommendation of the vet, and the horse was treated with Otomax once a day up until the day before the Kentucky Derby. He said he was informed Monday that one of the substances in Otomax is betamethasone.

Baffert agreed to grant "full access" to medical and testing results to be able to race.

"As a condition of acceptance of the entry, Baffert has provided his consent to the Maryland Jockey Club to allow for rigorous testing and monitoring in addition to that conducted by the Maryland Racing Commission (MRC)," the statement reads. "Those additional tests and monitoring are to ensure the fairness and integrity of the races entered by horses trained by Baffert."

Baffert claimed there was no confirmation that the ointment was responsible for the positive results, Fox News reports.

If any of Baffert’s horses test positive for the substance, they will be removed from the race, the racetrack said.