July, 2023 | Horse Racing Free Tips

HIWU Lifts Suspension of Trainer Handal, But Zeranol Case Still Pending

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit has lifted the provisional suspension of trainer Raymond Handal, who was told June 30 a horse in his care tested positive for the banned substance zeranol.

A notice on the HIWU website posted on Wednesday stated: “Pursuant to ADMC Program Rule 3247 (e), HIWU has lifted the provisional suspension based upon information submitted by the covered person and the review of relevant scientific information.”

The notice added, “The Equine Anti-Doping Notice has not been withdrawn.”

The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's Anti-Doping and Medication Control program Rule 3247 (e) states: “If it considers it appropriate to do so on the specific facts of the case, the Agency may lift the provisional suspension.”

HIWU is the testing and enforcement arm of HISA.

Attorney Clark Brewster, retained by Handal to represent him on the matter, said he was pleased by the reversal.

“The lab was conscientious enough to clean out the atypical finding of the zearalenone, which would be the basis of the zeranol,” Brewster said. “I've got to hand it to the lab here. We followed up, provided the literature and asked them to reconsider the suspension.”

Brewster was referring to literature showing that mycotoxins found on corn or grain can produce zearalenone. Zeranol is a metabolite of zearalenone.

Handal trainee Barrage tested positive for zeranol after finishing second in a Belmont Park allowance/optional claiming race on May 28. Zeranol is banned by HISA as an “anabolic agent.” Handal said it was “clear-cut contamination.”

Zeranol, produced under multiple brand names (Ralgro in the U.S.), is a growth-promoting nonsteroidal drug given to cattle and other livestock.

When the provisional suspension was originally announced, Handal was required to transfer his horses within 24 hours and he was unable to participate in training and racing. Patrick McKenna, vice president of communications for the New York Racing Association where Handal is based, issued the following statement on Wednesday: “With his provisional suspension lifted today by HIWU, trainer Ray Handal is once again able to fully participate in all training and racing activities at NYRA tracks.”

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Barry Pearl Retires From Role As Jockeys And Jeans President

Barry Pearl, president of Jockeys and Jeans, an annual event that has raised $3.1 million for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund in its nine-year history, has retired.

Pearl, 76, is a former jockey who rode mostly in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Florida. After retiring, Pearl became the track photographer at Penn National Racetrack and then a top salesperson for West Publishing, a leading publisher of books on law. He retired in 2009 and moved to Juno Beach, Fla., with his wife Dee.

Under Pearl's leadership the group's annual fundraiser became the most successful charity event in racing.

“As I ride off into the sunset,” Pearl said, “I would like to thank the great folks that make up our committee: Eddie Donnally, Maureen and Darrell Brown, Sandy and Karou Hawley, Jayme LaRocca, Roger Blanco, Michele Pearl, Len Eckhaus, Randy Sampson, Suzie Picou Oldham, Kenny Katz, Harvey Kacer, Allan Monet, GR Carter and PDJF Director Nancy LaSala.”

“We would never have had this level of success without him at the helm,” said Jockeys and Jeans vice president Eddie Donnally, also a former rider. “He embraced the cause for aiding disabled former jockeys and for him Jockeys and Jeans was a full-time job for at least six months out of the last nine years.” Donnally said he will stay on for the immediate future.

In December 2014, Donnally called Pearl, a friend from their days in racing, asking him to join three other fellow jockeys at Tampa Bay Downs for an old-timer's reunion. Three weeks before the January 2015 event, it became a PDJF fundraiser they named Jockey and Jeans. It raised $23,000. Pearl was unanimously elected president the following year.

At the first event Pearl met Brian Elmore, who then headed Indiana Grand racetrack, which became the site of the second event that raised $220,000. “Elmore was my mentor and showed me how to put on a successful event,” Pearl said. “I will be forever indebted to Brian for his friendship and support.”

Pearl also thanks event hosts Tampa Bay Downs, Horseshoe Indianapolis (formerly Indiana Grand), Gulfstream Park, Parx Racing, Canterbury Park, Santa Anita, Monmouth Park, Churchill Downs, and Caesars Palace in Las Vegas where the June 24 event raised a record of over $400,000.

Pearl said he informed PDJF Director Nancy LaSala that he would remain as an advisor and help with any transition.

“I hope the PDJF will embrace Jockeys and Jeans and keep it going,” said Pearl. “In the last nine years I have met so many great people, fallen riders, Hall of Fame members and folks that truly care about jockeys who are now riding wheelchairs. It's been a good run, but it's time for me to hang up my tack.”

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No Nay Never’s Frankel Relation Steps Out At Newbury

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday's Observations features a grandson of King (Ire) (Danehill).

18.05 Newbury, Novice, £10,000, 2yo, c/g, 6fT
ARRAY (IRE) (No Nay Never) wins the award for the day's best-bred newcomer, being the sixth foal out of Juddmonte's prized mare Joyeuse (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who shares her famed dam Kind (Ire) (Danehill) with the great Frankel (GB). Not surprisingly, given his achievements with the Juddmonte giant's son Chaldean (GB), Andrew Balding has been handed care of homebred whose half-siblings include the Group 1-placed Maximal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Jubiloso (GB) (Shamardal).

16.45 Haydock, Novice, £9,999, 2yo, 6f 212yT
HIDDEN PASS (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a big deal at the Arqana May Breeze Up, with Godolphin going to €400,000 for the Shadwell-bred half-brother to the G2 Let's Elope S. winner Turaath (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Charlie Appleby introduces the February-foaled chestnut in the race which saw Desert Hero

(GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) earn TDN Rising Star status 12 months ago and which also plays host to Coverdale Stud's Tribal Rhythm (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}), a James Horton-trained half-brother to last month's G1 King's Stand S. hero Bradsell (GB) (Tasleet {GB}).

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Delaware Jock Gets 15 Days for ‘Failure to Give Best Effort’

Jockey Raul E. Mena is appealing a 15-day suspension and $1,000 fine imposed by the Delaware Park stewards after a “failure to give best effort” ruling was lodged against him following a last-place finish aboard a 1-for-19 filly who trailed at every call in a $5,000 NW2L claiming sprint June 28.

Sarah Crane, the executive director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission (DTRC), confirmed in an email that Mena, 31, has been granted a stay of his penalties until a Sept. 19 hearing.

But Crane declined an opportunity to address questions about to the severity of the stewards' penalties in relation to the recent poor form of the filly Mena rode: In each of her previous three starts, Harper's Do (Straight Talking) had finished next to last at Laurel Park and Charles Town, and had been beaten 63 combined lengths.

In two of those efforts, Harper's Do had earned a Beyer Speed Figure of zero, which matches the figure she earned again on June 28 when she finished seventh, beaten 26 lengths, under Mena.

“Best for me to hold any comments while matter is under appeal,” Crane wrote when TDN queried about any mitigating circumstances. “I saw no valid reason not to grant a stay of suspension.”

TDN could not immediately reach Mena for comment.

Owned and trained by Mario Serey, Jr., Harper's Do went off at 6-1 odds under Mena, who was riding her for the first time in the eighth and final race of the afternoon at Delaware June 28.

Harper's Do came out of the gate seventh and last, then was guided to the eight path under a light hold. The filly dropped so far back that she was mostly out of the pan shot from the half-mile pole to the wire, with the head-on camera showing her a long way last while traveling five wide around the turn and in the six path through the home straight. The Equibase chart caller's comment stated that Harper's Do “broke slowly, fell far back, raced wide and was not urged.”

The stewards' report for that race listed on the DTRC website noted that Harper's Do was selected for “special” post-race testing. But otherwise, the three stewards-Joelyn Rigione, Robert Colton and William Troilo-described the race as, “Good start for all, no incidents to report.”

The July 4 ruling, however, noted that the stewards had also ordered a “soundness evaluation” and that Harper's Do had “jogged sound after the eighth race on June 28, 2023, per the Test Barn Veterinarian.”

After reviewing the films of the race with Mena on July 1 and “considering his testimony,” the stewards then imposed the “failure to give best effort” penalties. Prior to Mena's appeal, his suspension had been slated to start July 13.

Mena has compiled a 12-for-77 riding record with $259,965 in earnings this year. His season started late, on Apr. 16, because he was recovering from a fractured left femur sustained in a Tampa Bay Downs racing accident on Dec. 7, 2022.

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