Justify Officially Disqualified From Santa Anita Derby Win

The California Horse Racing Board has officially disqualified Justify from his win in the 2018 Santa Anita Derby (G1), according to a ruling dated March 30. 

Runner-up Bolt d'Oro, owned by Mick Ruis, has been declared the winner. All purse money paid to owners China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners, Starlight Racing, and WinStar Farm ($585,000), along with jockey Mike Smith and trainer Bob Baffert ($58,450 each), were ordered returned to the paymaster of purses at Santa Anita by April 29 for redistribution.

In the fall of 2019, the New York Times reported that the 2018 Triple Crown winner had a positive test for scopolamine after the Santa Anita Derby in April 2018. Scopolamine is used to treat gastrointestinal illness in humans and is thought by some experts to behave as a bronchodilator. It’s naturally found in jimson weed, and has been believed to contaminate hay, sometimes resulting in a positive test.

According to the Times, trainer Bob Baffert was informed of the positive test prior to Justify’s trip to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, and exercised his right to a split sample test at that time. In August, the California Horse Racing Board – which did not issue a complaint or schedule a public hearing – voted unanimously and privately in executive session not to proceed with the case.

Stewards had ruled that they lacked jurisdiction to conduct a disqualification hearing in this matter, but Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff disagreed. The Court decision issued in December of 2023 stated there is “no reason for remand” as there is “no doubt” the stewards would have disqualified Justify if they understood that they had the authority to do so, thus the Court directed the CHRB to issue a new ruling disqualifying Justify from the 2018 Santa Anita Derby (G1).