Zedan Racing Stables' Medina Spirit, unraced since finishing third in the May 15 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, recorded his second work following this spring's Triple Crown with a half-mile in :49 4/5 at Del Mar July 29.
Breezing in company with the unraced 2-year-old Bernardini colt Mecca Spirit for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, Medina Sprit and his stablemate were both kept under a tight hold by their riders, finishing on even terms.
Thursday's breeze followed a move June 14 at Santa Anita Park in which Medina Spirit was timed in :37 3/5 for three furlongs. Forty-five days passed between the two workouts.
A half-length victor over Juddmonte's Mandaloun in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, Medina Spirit faces the possibility of disqualification by Kentucky stewards after an initial and split-sample test indicated the prohibited race-day presence of betamethasone, a corticosteroid. Baffert is also at risk of a fine and/or suspension.
Stewards have yet to conduct a hearing pending receipt of follow-up testing. Attorneys representing the connections of the 3-year-old Protonico colt hope to present mitigating circumstances to stewards based on Baffert's statement of the colt receiving pre-Derby treatment of an ointment for a skin condition.
Maryland track officials allowed Medina Spirit to compete in the Preakness after he and other Baffert trainees cleared pre-race testing.
