C6 | HoustonChronicle.com |Houston Chronicle HH HORSE RACING | ETC. PREAKNESS STAKES Approximately 5:45 p.m. today, NBC Medina Spirit receives clearance to run Kentucky Derby the best chance to win,” Baffert said of the choice to winner passes enter both Medina Spirit drug screenings and Concert Tour in the Preakness. “They’re both doing really well, so why By Dave Sheinin not? They both might cook WA SHINGTON POST each up on the lead. Sometimes you hate to run BALTIMORE — After a two horses. But I’m trying week of controversy and to win the race and give the contingencies for the sport owners an opportunity.” of horse racing — with the Blissfully oblivious to all Kentucky Derby outcome the laboratory, medical and thrown into chaos, the public-relations machina- most famous trainer in tions going on around him, America ensconced in self- Medina Spirit — bought for imposed exile in California Skip Dickstein /Albany Times Union contributor just $1,000 as a yearling, and handicappers forced to Trainer Bob Baffert will not be in Baltimore to now a superstar with three consider one potential watch Medina Spirit race in the Preakness. wins and three runner-up Preakness Stakes field that finishes in six career starts includes the morning line cert Tour, barring some- came back clean on Thurs- run-up to the Derby, saying Baffert, claiming he did —has spent what by all ac- favorite and one that thing else unforeseen, will day. The last two, from May he was unaware the oint- not want to be a “distrac- counts has been a calm, doesn’t — a resolution of be among the favorites in 10 and 11, came back clean ment contains betametha- tion” this week, stayed smooth week at Pimlico’s sorts arrived Friday. the 10-horse field for the on Friday. In addition, race sone. The medical records away from Baltimore and stakes barn. Early Friday Medina Spirit, the Bob 146th Preakness. organizers said Medina reviewed by Preakness or- plans to watch the race morning, he had another Baffert-trained colt whose The enhanced drug and Spirit’s medical records — ganizers confirmed treat- from his California home. easy gallop around the Derby win two weeks ago is medical screenings were showing application of the ments with the ointment on He has won the Preakness track, followed by a bath under review pending re- conditions agreed upon by dermatitis ointment Oto- April 9 and April 19. seven times in his career, outside his stall. sults of a split-sample drug Baffert’s representatives max, believed to have been John Velazquez, as he did tied with 19th-century leg- Jimmy Barnes, Baffert’s test, was given final clear- and Preakness organizers the source of the betameth- in the Derby, will ride Medi- end R.W. Walden for the assistant, noted Medina ance to run for the second in the wake of the Sunday- asone in the horse’s system na Spirit on Saturday, while most all-time. Either Medi- Spirit came out of the Derby jewel in the Triple Crown morning revelation that —were consistent with Baf- Mike Smith, who rode Mid- na Spirit or Concert Tour — in such great condition, on Saturday after drug Medina Spirit had tested fert’s explanation. night Bourbon in the Derby, the latter of which was held handlers had him back on screenings from earlier this positive for the corticoste- After initially denying switches to Concert Tour in out of the Derby following a the track four days later for week came back clean and roid betamethasone follow- Medina Spirit had been giv- the Preakness, replacing Jo- lackluster showing in the alight jog. “How soon we an enhanced medical re- ing the Derby eight days en betamethasone and el Rosario. Both Medina Arkansas Derby — could get back to the track,” view satisfied race organiz- earlier. claiming he had been Spirit and Concert Tour are give him an eighth to break Barnes said, “is usually a ers. The first of those screen- “wronged,” Baffert later ac- known as front-runners the tie. sign of how happy we are The results mean Medina ings, stemming from blood knowledged the horse had who could duel for the early “They send me these with the recovery from the Spirit and stablemate Con- samples taken on May 6, been given Otomax in the lead in the Preakness. horses, and I’m giving them race.” UFC 262 Lightweights throw verbal jabs before bouts Chandler-Oliveira to battle for title, has rebuilt himself into a About the event force, and Chandler who but Ferguson feels he’s owed a shot When/where: Saturday at were chosen to fight for the Toyota Center. Main event title, not Ferguson. Oliveira starting at 9 p.m., prelims By Richard Dean able for pay per view on has a three-round victory 5:30 p.m., early prelims 5 CORRESPONDENT ESPN+. against Ferguson to his p.m. “Do you want me to be credit — a unanimous deci- Watch: ESPN+ on pay-per- Feeling somewhat disre- honest? I think I knock this sion in which Oliveira clear- view. spected, Tony Ferguson got guy (Chandler) out in the ly outwrestled his counter- his jabs in well before the first round,” said Oliveira part and never was in trou- Main card: Lightweight start of Saturday’s Ultimate (30-8), an 11-year UFC veter- ble. championship: Charles Fighting Championship 262 an whose opponent has Considered a slight favor- Oliveira (30-8-0 1 NC) vs. at Toyota Center. The light- two-and-a-half minutes of ite, Oliveira, the third- Michael Chandler (22-5-0). weight fight- UFC experience. Oliveira ranked lightweight, and Lightweight co-main: Tony er took ver- has 15 first-round finishes. Chandler, ranked fourth, Ferguson (26-5-0) vs. Be- bal shots at The main event on the made weight Friday, com- neil Dariush (20-4-1). Wom- Michael card is Oliveira-Chandler. ing in exactly at the 155- en’s flyweight: Katlyn Choo- Chandler on But Ferguson said he is the pound limit, setting up the kagian (15-4-0) vs. Viviane Thursday. one who has paid his dues showdown in a division Araujo (10-2-0). Feather- Only Fer- and should be fighting for where there are no easy weight: Shane Burgos (13- 2-0) vs. Edson Barboza guson isn’t the title, not Chandler Josh Hedges /Zuffa LLC fights. For the first time in Ferguson entering the (22-5), one of the most dec- Brazil’s Charles Oliveira, left, is considered a slight three years, a new light- (21-9-0). Bantamweight: octagon with orated fighters in Bellator favorite tonight against Michael Chandler. weight champion will be Matthew Christopher Chandler. Charles Oliveira history. crowned. Schnell (15-5-0) vs. Rogerio is pitted against Chandler “It feels like this is the tor champion, and Fergu- “Timing is everything. It “Stylistically, it’s an awe- Bontorin (16-3-0 1 NC). for the lightweight title left way it was supposed to be son were linked to a bout wasn’t meant for me to have some matchup no matter vacant with the retirement scripted,” Chandler said. late last year, but it did not the title. I would’ve given where this fight goes, this year of Khabib Nurma- “Lot of ups and downs, but materialize. Ferguson, who everybody the chance. whether it stays on its feet cial. I put three shows on gomedov. Conor McGregor every road led me here. isn’t one to hold back his These guys are going to try or goes to the ground, it sale — Jacksonville, Fla., was stripped of the champi- “I said I was going to feelings, felt Chandler was to keep the title away as should be fun,” White said. Houston and Las Vegas — all onship in 2018 because of come in, I was going to kick avoiding him. much as they can.” Saturday’s UFC 262 is the three combined, sold out in inactivity. the door down and show- “You dodged me Chan- Ferguson (26-5), who has first capacity event at Toyo- under five minutes. $20 mil- UFC is back in Houston, case my skills and prove dler,” said Ferguson who is competed in UFC since ta Center in more than a lion in revenue, 50,000 and the mixed martial art what I have been saying fighting Beneil Dariush in a 2013, feels Chandler year. It is expected to be the tickets sold. The sport is on competitors are engaging in over the last decade, that I lightweight co-headliner at skipped the line on the wait highest-grossing event in fire right now, through the abattle of words. Smack believe I’m the best light- Toyota Center. “You said list and hasn’t yet earned an Toyota Center history. roof. and trash talking go hand in weight on the planet. And no, man. You got this hand- opportunity for a title in this “This place is sold out, “The whole card is hand. The real fighting is on Saturday night, I get to ed to you. You got (UFC highly-competitive division and it’s going to be electric stacked with great fights. Saturday, when five bouts prove that.” president) Dana White priv- off just a single UFC win. on Saturday night,” White This place will be packed headline the action avail- Chandler, a former Bella- ilege. But it was Oliveira, who said. “It’s going to be spe- the first fight of the night.” trict. SCHMID “I’d travel back and forth From page C1 with my dad,” Eric said.