In a long-standing legal battle spanning four years, equestrian star Justify, the undefeated Triple Crown champion of 2018, faces a potential stain on his flawless record. Recently, L.A. Superior Court judge Mitchell L. Beckloff ruled on Friday that Justify’s victory in the 2018 Santa Anita Derby might be invalidated. This decision sends the case back to the Board of Stewards for further review.

The pivotal question remains: could this impact Justify’s historic win in the Kentucky Derby, the initial triumph toward the coveted Triple Crown? If Justify were to be disqualified from the Santa Anita, his eligibility for the Kentucky Derby might have been jeopardized. Despite retiring after securing the Triple Crown in merely six races, the uncertainty surrounding the legitimacy of his earlier victories now casts a shadow over his previously untarnished legacy.

Emotional horse racing community response

Recently, Nina Ledkovsku posted on X featuring Justify with a deeply emotional sentiment. The caption expressed, “Justify. 2018. Belmont Park, NY. I don’t care what happens in lieu of this ridiculous decision today. He will always be the 13th Triple Crown winner to me. His babies running now are proving his worth…”

Mick Ruis, the creator, and trainer of Bolt d’Oro, runner-up in the race, filed a lawsuit not targeting Bob Baffert or Justify’s owners but aimed at the California Horse Racing Board. The lawsuit alleged that the board overruled stewards’ decision and allowed Justify to keep the win despite suspicions of doping. No wrongdoing was implicated against Justify’s connections, as investigations revealed the horse suffered contamination from feed, a situation seen in other horses testing positive for scopolamine. Despite its non-traditional performance-enhancing nature, this substance triggered the controversy.

Justify’s scopolamine test and legal battles

The 2018 Santa Anita Derby revolves around Justify’s post-race drug test revealing scopolamine, reported by The New York Times in 2019. The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) initially attributed the finding to environmental contamination, avoiding labeling it a positive test. A subsequent settlement egged the CHRB to file a complaint in 2020, seeking reconsideration by stewards.

However, stewards dismissed the case, stating the CHRB had already made a determination in 2018. Litigation ensued, with Judge Mitchell Beckloff ordering stewards to address the matter. Beckloff ultimately ruled in favor of disqualification, citing precedents and dismissing stewards’ claims of lacking authority. This decision supports the CHRB rule, necessitating disqualification for horses with prohibited substances, altering the race results but not affecting better payouts.

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Though the legal issue was resolved, the controversy’s effect was seen in the repositioning of races and calling for justification of Justify’s Triple Crown in 2018.

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