KENTUCKY DERBY 2021 FULL COVERAGE | Medina Spirit | Bob Baffert |

#Kentuckyderby2021 #MedinaSpirit #HorseRacingGlobal
~~Medina Spirit Wins the 147th Kentucky Derby~~
The trainer Bob Baffert collected his seventh Derby victory while the favourite, Essential Quality, faltered and finished fourth
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - On another first Saturday in May, the beauty of America’s oldest sport battled neck and neck down the stretch with its unseemliness as a colt named Medina Spirit elegantly held off a determined challenge from Mandaloun.
They moved in tandem like four-legged ballet dancers - effortlessly, beautifully. No one here who loved thoroughbred racing could catch a breath after Medina Spirit crossed the finish line half a length ahead of Mandaloun and comfortably ahead of the pre-race favourite, Essential Quality.
With the colt’s victory, the Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert won his seventh Kentucky Derby, surpassing the record set by Ben Jones, who collected his blankets of roses in 1938, 1941, 1944, 1948, 1949 and 1952.
It was a victory that came with an asterisk, as achievements in horse racing so often do.
Much of the news made lately by Baffert has not been good. Regulators in Arkansas last month upheld a ruling that a banned substance had been found in two of Baffert’s horses, but they decided to reduce his penalty from a suspension to a fine.
Baffert is the dominant competitor and the most questioned one in his sport, which recently prompted the passage of federal legislation that would bring in the United States Anti-Doping Agency - the organization that enforces drug rules in Olympic sports - to monitor horse racing.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” Baffert said moments after his record-breaking victory. “I’m so spoiled bringing these heavy-duty horses in here, and this little horse has a big heart.”
The bittersweet aftertaste of Medina Spirit’s victory threatened to eclipse the achievement of the colt’s rider, the Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. At 49, Velazquez had not exactly been left for dead but was thought to be pulling the shades on the twilight of his career.
Really?
This was his fourth Derby triumph and, in a calendar turned topsy-turvy by a coronavirus pandemic that has left all of us battered, his second in nine months. It left him tied for Derby wins with the great Bill Shoemaker and one behind the immortals Eddie Arcaro and Bill Hartack.
Last fall, when Velazquez won aboard Authentic, he returned to the jockey’s room and burst into tears. This time, he said he was grateful that a horse that even Baffert did not think much of had overachieved.
“Every time I asked him to give more, he kept fighting on,” he said. “When you ride a horse like this who is competitive, you can’t ask for anything else.”
The pandemic led organizers to run the 2020 Derby last September in front of empty seats, but on Saturday, America’s greatest horse race was back.
Sort of.
The mint juleps flowed while exuberant hats and pocket squares bobbed through the grandstand and clubhouse of the famed Churchill Downs. But there were fewer of all of them: the track was at a third of its 150,000-person capacity, especially earlier in the day, when it felt like a club way past last call.
They tease and torment was all on display as horse racing took its springtime turn in the spotlight. There were fresh faces that promised to bring a new, more favourable kind of attention to horse racing. Kendrick Carmouche, in his first Kentucky Derby at 37, was trying to become the first Black jockey to win the race in 119 years.
His appearance on a long shot named Bourbonic added to Black riders’ long history in the sport. Oliver Lewis won the first Derby in 1875, and 15 of the first 28 editions of the race were won by Black jockeys, most recently Jimmy Winkfield in 1902.
Carmouche and Bourbonic finished 13th.
Essential Quality promised excitement and a new lens for viewing the sport.
Until he didn’t.
A gray son of Tapit, Essential Quality came to Churchill Downs with a gaudy résumé, as the reigning 2-year-old champion and the owner of a 5-for-5 record. His trainer, Brad Cox, is a Louisville native coming off the finest year of his career, having won four Breeders’ Cup races and having been named the champion trainer for 2020.
Essential Quality’s rider, Luis Saez, is one of the top young jockeys in the country and was looking for redemption after memorably guiding a colt named Maximum Security first across the finish line here in the 2019, only to be disqualified for almost knocking over a rival horse and slowing the momentum of others.
But the following year, Maximum Security’s trainer, Jason Servis, would be among more than 27 people charged by federal prosecutors in a wide-ranging scheme to secretly dope horses and cheat the betting public.
todd pletcher tvg medina spirit drug test

[@djkent9747]

A gusty performance, one of the best. Continued to win after the controversy. Give him his victory back!!!! Don't blame him for beating CDI's golden boy's Mandaloun. RIP to one of the best.

[@tootsiemuah3572]

You don’t get a victory back for cheating. You’re part of the problem

[@Caroni100]

Medina Spirit (April 5, 2018 - December 6, 2021) * Sire: Protonico * Grandsire: Giant's Causeway * Dam: Mongolian Changa * Damsire: Brilliant Speed * Sex: Colt * Breeder: Gail Rice * Owner: Zedan Racing Stables (Amin Zedan) * Trainer: Robert "Bob" Baffert * Jockeys: Abel Cedillo (2 for 3) John Velasquez (3 for 7) * 10 Starts * 5 Wins * 4 Seconds * 1 Third * $ 3,545,200 earned * Rest In Peace, Champion! We´ll never forget you! * Greetings from Venezuela Medina Spirit (5 de Abril, 2018 - 6 de Diciembre, 2021) * Padre: Protonico * Abuelo paterno: Giant's Causeway * Madre: Mongolian Changa * Abuelo materno: Brilliant Speed * Sexo: Potro * Criador: Gail Rice * Propietario: Zedan Racing Stables (Amin Zedan) * Entrenador: Robert "Bob" Baffert * Jinetes: Abel Cedillo (De 3-2) John Velasquez (De 7-3) * 10 Salidas * 5 Primeros * 4 Segundos * 1 Tercero * $ 3,545,200 producidos * ¡Descansa En Paz, Campeón! ¡Nunca te olvidaremos! * Saludos desde Venezuela

[@brodiehawkins3688]

Noher last race was in December 2022 was it not

[@ElizabethStephenskronner55]

I hear the snorts of my horse I feel his hooves pounding the ground I see his muscles quiver with excitement The beauty of this animal cannot be overstated He rejoices in his strength His red coat gleams in the sun and his eyes widen with excitement My horse is the most gorgeous animal on the planet He is a proud creature who’s love of running matches my love of riding I am one with him and he is one with me He rejoices when his feet fly off the ground The wind in his mane and in my hair The rush of the race fills our blood and veins We aren’t silent about this This growing need to fly across fields and speed across beaches I lean forward and whisper “Fly my love. Let them see your strength and your speed. Let me be the one who feels those muscles beneath me as I become your whole. Fly my love. Let me be your rider.”

[@jakefehr3026]

Does anyone know if KZbin live streams the Kentucky Derby?

[@michaelwilson5826]

Viva Protonico!! May God travel with you

[@jacksonaltidor]

Congratulations

[@drewrockwell8000]

is there any way you can get the full coverage of the 2018 Kentucky Derby Year

[@mannbradmusic]

For the benefit and convenience of you and others who view this, I have the lyrics for "My Old Kentucky Home" and they are below if you want to look them over while listening or sing along. It occurs at the 27:51 mark. The sun shines bright on My Old Kentucky Home, 'tis Summer, the people are gay; the corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom, while the birds make music all the day. The young folks roll on the little cabin floor, all merry, all happy and bright; By'n by hard times come a-knocking at the door, then My Old Kentucky Home, good night! Weep no more, my lady! O, weep no more today! We will sing one song for My Old Kentucky Home, for My Old Kentucky Home far away. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 And the race itself begins at the 42:40 mark.

[@savagebart7854]

Ricardo Santana was actually the last black jockey in 2016 riding Creator

[@reynaldomacahilas3072]

Juiced up bobby

[@dtc2024]

Thanks for the full coverage. I saw the Kentucky Derby on NBC

[@Horses4LIFE455]

beutiful

[@coffeeblack1057]

18:38. What song is that playing

[@eagle13rodgerthatradar]

Bob main line drug pusher for horses it is called liquid courage

[@NghiaLy-wj3nr]

Okie man anh trai toi oi ok .!^.^

[@NghiaLy-wj3nr]

Okie man

[@keithwarner6997]

He killed the horse. So sad. Lost all respect from everyone bbbf thìef

[@brodiehawkins3688]

This was her last race right

[@spooder6]

Boom

[@lyndacompton1846]

Why is this guy wearing a mask on his face how odd

[@hectorcasillas6877]

Caballo que no se la creian muy honesto

[@drewrockwell2676]

Great Derby destroyed by politics and lies

[@howardroy1097]

Destroyed by someone that thinks he is can't get ruled off for illegal drugs

[@drewrockwell2676]

@howardroy1097 lol, not an illegal drug, please be educated before just saying what the media makes you want to believe

[@howardroy1097]

@drewrockwell2676 It is not the media he had been busted several times in the past and all they did was slap him on the hand and this time the racing stewards finally done what they should have done a long time ago

[@drewrockwell2676]

@howardroy1097 you need to do some research before I talk to people that don't know what is going on Hope you have a great week

[@howardroy1097]

@drewrockwell2676 I have been on the race track for several years so I kind of think I know a little more than you think I do

[@hiramlopez1121]

cheaters.

[@drewrockwell8000]

wrong learn your facts before speaking and not believing the lies of the big media

[@drewrockwell8000]

lol you only know the lies

[@keithwarner6997]

J Velazquez. Mxthoef. W Cordero. Money. Going to he'll w Bobby b