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sports Diamars 7 December 2021

Derby winner Medina Spirit collapses, dies in California

(AP) - Kentucky Derby erinary team took blood, hair have “definitely confirmed”
winner Medina Spirit col- and urine samples from Me- Medina Spirit tested posi-
lapsed and died after a dina Spirit and sent them to tive for the steroid — not
workout Monday at Santa the California Horse Racing through an injection but due
Anita. Board. The colt will undergo to an ointment used to treat a
a full necropsy, as required skin rash.
The 3-year-old colt trained by the racing board, to try to
by Bob Baffert had just com- determine the exact cause of The Kentucky Horse Racing
pleted five furlongs in his death. Commission has been inves-
second workout since finish- tigating the case, and has yet
ing second in the Breeders’ Medina Spirit tested positive to hold a hearing that could
Cup Classic a month ago at after the May 1 Derby for possibly disqualify Medina
Del Mar, according to Craig betamethasone, a legal medi- Spirit.
Robertson, Baffert’s attorney. cation that is not allowed
Baffert said in a statment that on race day. It was Baffert’s In the $6 million BC Classic,
the horse suffered a heart at- record seventh win in the Medina Spirit couldn’t mus-
tack. Derby. In the wake of Medi- ter the necessary late kick to
na Spirit’s failed test, Baffert threaten winner Knicks Go.
“My entire barn is devastated was suspended by Churchill the event’s money-leading ing to Equibase. The colt was
by this news,” Baffert said. Downs and barred from en- “I’m very proud of him. He trainer had to meet certain owned by Amr Zedan, who
“Medina Spirit was a great tering horses in the 2022 and ran a great race,” Baffert said conditions, including stricter competes as Zedan Racing
champion, a member of our 2023 Kentucky Derbies. He last month. “To me, he’s the out-of-competition testing Stables.
family who was loved by all, also was banned by the New best 3-year-old. He showed of his horses and greater se-
and we are deeply mourning York Racing Association it today. That’s what racing curity at his barn. He agreed “Our most sincere condo-
his loss. I will always cher- from entering horses at its is all about, proving it on the to the extra scrutiny and was lences go out to Mr. Amr
ish the proud and personal Belmont, Saratoga and Aque- racetrack. And he proved it required to pay for it out of Zedan and the entire Zedan
memories of Medina Spirit duct tracks. today that he’s the real deal.” his own pocket. Racing Stables family,” Baf-
and his tremendous spirit.” fert said in his statement
Last Friday, Robertson re- Baffert was allowed to enter Medina Spirit had five wins Monday. “They are in our
Santa Anita released a stat- leased a statement saying that horses in the season-ending in 10 career starts and earn- thoughts and prayers as we go
ment saying the track vet- tests done by a New York lab world championships, but ings of $3,545,200, accord- through this difficult time.”

Oregon’s Cristobal takes Miami coaching job after Diaz fired

(AP) — For Mario Cris- ter,” Oregon athletic director title-winning teams and re- the school was trying to pry tions to our campus commu-
tobal, the road has always Rob Mullens said. turned to start his coaching Cristobal out of Oregon. Fir- nity and to his native South
led back to Miami. career as a graduate assistant ing Diaz, though, suggested Florida, and for the strong
Diaz was hired in 2018 on for the Hurricanes under Miami was secure in the be- leadership and exemplary
Once again, he’s coming the same day that Mark Richt Butch Davis in 1998. lief that Cristobal is coming. character he exhibited during
home. stepped down; this time, the “An announcement regarding his tenure at the University,”
football vacancy was even He left to spend three seasons new leadership for the foot- Frenk said. “We wish him
Cristobal is leaving Oregon shorter, since Miami wasn’t at Rutgers, then returned to ball program will be forth- and his family the very best
and returning to Miami, ac- firing Diaz without a com- Miami from 2004 through coming,” the university said as they move forward.”
cepting an offer to become mitment from Cristobal to 2006. He wanted to be a can- in the news release where it
the head coach at his alma come aboard. didate for the top job when revealed that school president Miami went 5-1 in Diaz’s fi-
mater, where he won two the Hurricanes fired Larry Julio Frenk had fired Diaz. nal six games. And with the
national championships as A person with knowledge of Coker but instead was hired Miami will play Washington exception of Notre Dame’s
a player. He let the Ducks the school’s plans told The as coach at FIU and spent six State in the Sun Bowl later one-year appearance as a con-
know of the decision Mon- Associated Press that Miami seasons there. this month. It’s unknown ference member, Diaz guided
day, his team meeting in Or- expects to complete the hir- who will be the interim coach Miami to the second-best re-
egon nearly simultaneous to ing of Dan Radakovich as A four-season stint as an Ala- for that game. cord in Atlantic Coast Con-
the other part of the move, athletic director this week. bama assistant followed, and ference games in his three
that being Miami announc- Radakovich has been ath- then Cristobal spent four Diaz was criticized by an im- seasons. The Hurricanes
ing the firing of coach Manny letic director at Clemson but years as head coach in Or- patient Miami fan base for were 16-9 against league op-
Diaz after three seasons. started his career in sports egon — winning two Pac-12 some bad losses, such as a ponents in that span, behind
administration 40 years ago at titles and leading the Ducks 2019 defeat to FIU and the only Clemson.
“We appreciate all of Mario’s Miami, where he got one of to the title game this season bowl loss later that season to
accomplishments and hard his degrees. as well. Louisiana Tech. The Hurri- The recruits Diaz landed in
work here at Oregon, and we canes started 2-4 this season, the last two years proved to
wish him and his family all Cristobal played at Miami, But the lure of home was just one of those defeats com- be among Miami’s best play-
the best in their next chap- was part of the 1989 and 1991 too strong. So the Miami na- ing to Virginia when Miami ers in 2021. Miami was the
tive is returning again. missed a short field goal that lone ACC team to beat con-
would have won the game as ference champion Pitt this
It comes after Diaz was fired time expired. season and after the regular-
following a 7-5 regular sea- season finale, many players
son and going 21-15 in three But Diaz’s fate may have took to social media to post
seasons at Miami. His job se- been sealed with a 31-28 loss support for Diaz.
curity had been in question to Florida State last month, a
for some time, and specula- game where the Hurricanes Diaz’s firing continues what
tion ramped up three weeks let the Seminoles take the is now an 18-year cycle of
ago when the Hurricanes dis- lead in the final seconds on impatience at Miami, starting
missed athletic director Blake a drive where they couldn’t with the season in which the
James — one of the people get a stop on a fourth-and-14 Hurricanes joined the ACC.
who hired Diaz in 2018. play. That was 2004, and the Hur-
ricanes are still waiting for
But Diaz kept working, “We are grateful to Coach their first conference cham-
even in recent days while Diaz for his many contribu- pionship.