Class Action Lawsuit Against Zedan Racing Stables
Yesterday a group of bettors who lost money on the 2021 Kentucky Derby filed suit against Bob Baffert, the trainer of the horse who finished first in the race, Medina Spirit, and the owner of the horse, Zedan Racing Stables.
It was announced on May 8th that Medina Spirit had tested positive in a post-race test for the banned drug, betamethasone, anti-inflammatory steroid.
In 2020, Bob Baffert had 4 different post-race drug tests come back positive. All of the racing jurisdictions leveled minor penalties.
If Medina Spirit is indeed disqualified, then the 2nd place horse in the race, Mandaloun, will be placed 1st and the 3rd place finisher place 2nd and each of the other horses will move up a position. The owners of those horses as well as the trainers and jockeys will be given the appropriate shares of the purse. Unfortunately, the horseplayers who wagered on the correct horses will once again be left with nothing.
This lawsuit has been filed to help clean up the sport of racing, protect the horses and to represent the horseplayers who are completely ignored. Without them, the sport of horseracing would not exist.
On November 4th of last year, Bob Baffert issued the following press release:
I want to raise the bar and set the standard for equine safety and rule compliance going forward. For those of you that have been upset over the incidents of the past year, I share your disappointment. I humbly vow to do everything within my power to do better. I want my legacy to be one of making every effort to do right by the horse and the sport.”
Bettors relied on that statement and assumed Baffert would play by the rules. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
Hopefully this lawsuit will change that.
PERFORMANCE OF BAFFERT HORSES ON MAY 1st (CHURCHILL DOWNS)
VS.
MAY 14TH & 15th (PIMLICO)
| MAY 1ST – CHURCHILL DOWNS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RACE | HORSE | ODDS | FINISH |
| DERBY CITY DISTAFF | GAMINE | 0.20* | 1ST |
| AMERICAN TURF | DU JOUR | 5.60 | 1ST |
| KENTUCKY DERBY | MEDINA SPIRIT | 12.10 | 1ST |
| MAY 14TH – PIMLICO | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| RACE | HORSE | ODDS | FINISH |
| BLACK EYED SUSANF | BEAUTIFUL GIFT | 2.60* | 7th (Beaten 21 lengths) |
| MAY 15TH – PIMLICO | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| SIR BARTON | HOZIER | 0.60* | 2ND (Beaten by a head) |
| THE PREAKNESS | MEDINA SPIRIT | 2.40 | 3RD (Beaten 5.5 lengths |
| THE PREAKNESS | CONCERT TOUR | 3.70 | 9TH (Beaten 34 lengths) |
* Denotes the favorite in the race
CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
William B. Federman
Federman & Sherwood
10205 North Pennsylvania Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73120
Telephone: (405) 235-1560
Facsimile: (405) 239-2112
-and-
212 W. Spring Valley Rd.
Richardson, TX 75081
Daniel P. Markoff
Atkins Markoff Adler Law Firm
9211 Lake Hefner Parkway, Ste. 104
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120
www.amalaw.com
CELL: 405-823-7807
405-607-8757
800-442-0607
Fax: 405-607-8749