By Dan Ross
The federal court in the Western District of Kentucky Friday dismissed a class action lawsuit brought by a group of gamblers against trainer Bob Baffert over Medina Spirit's win and subsequent disqualification in the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
Paid off to the public as the race-day winner, Medina Spirit lost the Derby due to a failed post-race drug test. He tested positive for betamethasone, a controlled medication banned on race-day. Mandaloun, who had passed the post second, was promoted to first.
The plaintiffs, spearheaded by professional gambler Michael Beychok, argued that they would have won their wagers but for Medina Spirit's “drug-induced win.” They requested relief including “ordering Defendants to pay to Plaintiffs and the Class the amount they would have won.”
On Friday, judge Claria Horn Boom dismissed the case. Baffert's attorney, Craig Robertson, said that he was happy the court “recognized the case had no merit.”
“I'm happy that the Court correctly recognized that the claims of these disgruntled gamblers had zero merit,” he continued. “I'm most happy for Mr. Baffert and the fact that he can put this frivolous lawsuit behind him.”
A similar lawsuit filed by a group of bettors against both Baffert and Churchill Downs Inc. was dismissed earlier this year.
The plaintiffs have 30 days to file an appeal in this case. Beychok said that while there's a remote possibility the plaintiffs will do so, he thought it unlikely.
“I don't regret bringing the lawsuit,” said Beychok. “It was a longshot and it didn't come in for us,” he said, adding that in cases like this, “the courts are always stacked against the bettors.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
