NEWS broke mid-week that two horses from the Bob Baffert barn had tested positive for a banned substance after racing in Oaklawn Park.

The Belmont Stakes probable Charlatan, as well as his stablemate, the three-year-old filly Gamine, who also won on the May 2nd card in Oaklawn, are reported to have tested positive for lidocaine, a regulated anesthetic widely used in equine medicine.

The anesthetic is considered a Class 2 drug by the Association of Racing Commissioners International, and use of it carries a penalty of a 15- to 60-day suspension and a fine of up to $1,000 for a first offence. Unless there are mitigating circumstances, the horse would also be disqualified. The results of the second split sample are still to be received.

Charlatan has made rapid strides this season, winning his maiden at Santa Anita in February 16th, an allowance race mid-March and won the first division of the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by six lengths in early May. Charlatan is currently ranked fourth on the qualifying-points list for the Kentucky Derby.

Baffert came under scrutiny last September when it was revealed by the New York Times that Triple Crown winner Justify was found to have a prohibited level of scopolamine in his system after he won the 2018 Santa Anita Derby in April 2018. No action was taken against the trainer or the race winner.

Baffert issued a statement on Tuesday to BloodHorse. “The rules of the Arkansas Racing Commission mandate confidentiality concerning any investigation into an alleged rule violation until there is a written decision by the stewards. I am extremely disappointed that, in this instance, the Commission has not followed its own rules for confidentiality. I am hoping for an expedited investigation and look forward to being able to speak soon about any written decision of the stewards, if and when it becomes necessary and I’m allowed to under the Commission’s confidentiality rules.”

Baffert’s other Derby contender Nadal suffered a career-ending injury on Thursday.