After the celebration by Bob Baffert and their team concluded when Medina Spirit won the Kentucky Derby, the smiles were quickly erased. That's because it was discovered that Baffert's horse had tested positive for an illegal substance. While the wait for a follow-up sample continues on, bettors who went against Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby aren't sitting around.
According to Darren Rovell of The Action Network, four different bettors are suing Bob Baffert for racketeering and fraud.
“The bettors, Michael Beychock, Justin Wunderler, Michael Meegan and Keith Mauer, all had Mandaloun in their betting combinations. The two largest bettors — Beychok and Wunderler — said they would have made in between $10,000 and $100,000 if Mandaloun won the Derby or was given the win in the betting world. The bettors ask for the money that they say is rightfully deserved plus additional damages, among other things.” – Darren Rovell Action Network.
That's a lot of change left on the table after Bob Baffert and Medina Spirit came out victorious. While it seems unlikely on the surface that they win this battle, there is at least one recent instance in which a bettor sued and came out on top in a very similar instance.
While Bob Baffert initially denied any wrongdoing, he has since changed his tune to blaming a cancel culture society for all of this mess that is unraveling with his horse.
Kentucky Derby winning horse Medina Spirit has tested positive for an anti-inflammatory, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.
Baffert denied any wrongdoing, calling the news "the biggest gut punch in racing for something I didn't do." https://t.co/mCYf6P20QM pic.twitter.com/HfF8M2cJUk
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 9, 2021
Medina Spirit, the thoroughbred colt whose 2021 Kentucky Derby win is in peril due to a failed drug test, will be allowed entry at Preakness Stakes. Trainer Bob Baffert had called outcry over the results "cancel culture."https://t.co/lmDAQS38km
— NPR (@NPR) May 11, 2021
After all those comments gained even more steam and more attention, Baffert changed course once again, admitting one possibility of what could've happened that led to the positive test.
Bob Baffert releases new statement in which he says, “Oops, I guess I did do it” pic.twitter.com/Yn30EolMjQ
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) May 11, 2021
Medina Spirit has been cleared to participate in the Preakness with some conditions put in place. While all of that continues to come together, these four bettors hope they have a legitimate case to earn their money that they believe they deserve.
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