The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's Board of Stewards has finally made their decision.
They have decided that Medina Spirit's positive test for Betamethasone no matter how it was administered is sufficient grounds to disqualify the horse and declare Mandaloun the winner.
Mandaloun, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, finished half a length behind Medina Spirit. Mandaloun is currently in Saudi Arabia preparing for the Saudi Cup, which he has a good chance of winning.
Baffert's 90 days suspension is more than the normal for a grade C drug offence, but Baffert had four medication violations in the previous 365 days. The fine of US$7,500 is risible.
Baffert has the right to appeal before and Administrative Law judge so it is not all over bar the shouting as there may be a fair bit of shouting going on.
In 1968 Dancer's Image was DQd for a drug offence and it took four years before Forward Pass was named the winner.
The big loser in all this is the horse. He died during trackwork in December probably from a heart attack but his recent necropsy was unable to find the definitive cause.
