The 146th Preakness Stakes transformed the moment Bob Baffert stepped in front of his barn Sunday and announced that Medina Spirit had tested positive for an anti-inflammatory drug after his victory in the Kentucky Derby.
Baffert had seemed destined for another week of coronation as he aimed for an eight Preakness victory to go with his seven Derby wins. His quest would blend with a relative return to normalcy after COVID-19 scrambled the Triple Crown schedule in 2020.
As soon as Baffert delivered his news, however, the run-up to Saturday’s race became a referendum on the Hall of Fame trainer’s legacy and a waiting game to see if Medina Spirit would even be allowed to run at Pimlico Race Course.