Month: September 2023

Utah State’s First Class Of Veterinary Students Begins Their Studies

By the time most students at Utah State University have attended their first week of classes this semester, the 32 students accepted into the USU College of Veterinary Medicine will already have taken their first tests.

Students in the College of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2027 arrived for a week of orientation in mid-August in preparation for the demanding four-year program they are starting to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

The orientation covers some nuts and bolts of navigating facilities and policies, but the week is titled the Aggie Wellness Experience because the focus is on providing students with connections to their new community of scholars, introducing tools that can help build resilience and improve mental health and wellbeing, and formally welcoming students to the profession.

While USU's fall semester begins Aug. 28, the earlier start for vet med students aligns the program with the schedule with students' peers at Washington State University where the USU students will go for the final two years of training after completing their first two years at USU.

The college has been a partner in the Washington-Idaho-Montana-Utah Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine since 2012 as part of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences. The College of Veterinary Medicine is the university's newest college and is preparing to expand its program to provide a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at USU's Logan campus.

The college expects its first class of four-year students to begin their studies in the fall semester of 2025. A new veterinary medicine building will be constructed near the corner of 1400 North and 1200 East in Logan, and students will also continue to learn and gain hands-on experience at the university's Animal Science Research Farm in Wellsville.

A few facts about the incoming class of first-year students:

  • There are 24 women and 8 men in the class
  • Twenty-two students are Utah residents, and others come from Nevada, California, Texas, Connecticut, North Carolina, Arizona, Wisconsin and Wyoming
  • The class includes the first student in the Washington-Idaho-Montana-Utah Regional Program in Veterinary Medicine program who earned a bachelor's degree at USU Eastern (and worked with a veterinarian who is a USU-WIMU alumnus)
  • The students' undergraduate majors include biochemistry, biology, anthropology, finance, economics, kinesiology and veterinary science

A highlight of the week for students and their families and friends was the White Coat Ceremony, which is a tradition at medical schools nationwide. Students were presented with their first white coat, donated by college supporters and members of the Utah Veterinary Medical Association. The gathering at USU was linked via video feed with the ceremony at WSU and students were formally welcomed into the profession by Dr. Dirk Vanderwall, interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine; Dr. Dori Borjesson, dean of Washington State's College of Veterinary Medicine; and Utah Veterinary Medical Association President Dr. Susan Benson.

At the end of the ceremony, the USU students joined their new colleagues in taking the Veterinary Student Oath which says, in part, “I promise to work conscientiously to develop my scientific and medical knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.”

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Fresu To Begin Serving 32 Calendar Days For Multiple HISA Riding Crop Violations

It was a good news, bad news Labor Day weekend for jockey Antonio Fresu at Del Mar.

First, the bad news.

The 31-year-old native of Italy was suspended for the sixth time for violating the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority's six-strike riding crop limit while aboard Lunar Impact, winner of the first race on Sept. 2. He received a one-day suspension and $492 fine for the violation, plus three multiple violation points for the Class 3 offense.

That brought Fresu's total points to 18, triggering an additional 15-day suspension under HISA rules. The prior week, Fresu was notified of his fourth and fifth whip violations, each of which came with a one-day suspension and fine. Those two rulings triggered two separate seven-day suspensions under the multiple violation structure that calls for seven-day suspensions for accumulating 11-15 points over a six-month period. The next level, 16-20 points, result in 15 days; 21 or more points, 30 days.

So where's the good news?

Last week's rulings said the suspensions were to be served on racing days in Southern California, meaning his 16-day ban would have run from Sept. 8 through Oct. 9. California Horse Racing Board stewards, at the request of Tom Knust, Fresu's agent, sought clarification from HISA on whether the suspensions are meant to be served only on racing days or as calendar days. HISA officials said the rule was intended to mean calendar days, so the previous rulings were amended.

As a result, all 32 days of Fresu's suspension will be served as calendar days. By coincidence, the aggregate 32 days of suspensions will extend to the same date, Oct. 9, as the 16 days would have run were it racing days.

Knust told Mike Willman on the ThoroughbredLA radio show on Sept. 3 that Fresu, newly arrived from Dubai in April, developed a habit of tapping his mounts once at the top of the stretch, then using the crop six times down the lane. “That puts him at seven,” Knust said. “He can't do that tap first.” All of Fresu's violations were for going one strike over the limit, Knust said.

Fresu is allowed to ride in designated races and is named on two horses at Del Mar Sept. 9: Turnerloose in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee for Phil D'Amato; and Cheeky Gal for Peter Miller in the G1 FanDuel Racing Del Mar Debutante Stakes.

Virtually unknown in Southern California when he arrived from Dubai at the suggestion of Doug O'Neill assistant Leandro Mora, Fresu has had an exceptional Del Mar meet, coming into the final three days with 31 wins from 169 mounts, second only to perennial leader Juan Hernandez in the standings.

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HIWU Weekly Update: Michael Lauer Is Fifth Trainer With Metformin Positive Since May 22

Nine new pending violations have been added to the public disclosures section of the website for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), the enforcement arm of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).

Potentially the most serious of those violations is a positive test for metformin by a horse trained by Indiana mainstay Michael Lauer. A conditioner of over 1,200 winners during a career dating back to 1976, Lauer is currently among the top 10 trainers at Horseshoe Indianapolis and has been ranked among the top 100 trainers in the U.S. by earnings three times.

Lauer's provisional suspension is postponed; he is still permitted to train his horses while awaiting results of a split sample test. Lauer marks the fifth trainer with a positive test for metformin since HIWU's ADMC program went into effect on May 22.

Seven new case resolutions have been added to the website as well. This week's biggest penalty was once again for a violation of the intra-articular injection rules.

Trainer James Russell Jackson will pay a $3,000 fine for his first-time violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout. HISA updated its rules for violations of this rule in mid-July; a second violation would see the trainer face a $6,000 fine and 10-day suspension. The updated regulations for the intra-articular injection rule can be found here. Jackson was also assessed 3 Penalty Points; the accumulation of those points can lead to suspensions (6-7 points leads to a 30-day suspension).

As a reminder: HIWU's regulations for vet's list workouts include stricter medication restrictions than those for horses completing routine timed workouts. Horses on the veterinarian's list are required to complete a recorded work before a veterinarian and undergo post-race drug testing to be taken off the list. Horses completing routine, non-vet's list workouts are prohibited from having analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, and local anesthetics in their system, but other therapeutic medications are permitted.

Last week's edition of the HIWU Weekly Roundup is available here, and all public disclosures can be found on the HIWU website.

New Case Resolutions

The following cases have recently been resolved by HIWU, either by early admission and acceptance of consequences (EAAC) or by final decision (FINAL).

  • Trainer James Russell Jackson will pay a $3,000 fine for his first-time violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with I Wanna Win (ruling date July 27). Jackson was also assessed 3 Penalty Points. HISA updated its rules for violations of this rule in mid-July; a second violation would see the trainer face a $6,000 fine and 10-day suspension. The updated regulations for the intra-articular injection rule can be found here. (FINAL)
  • Trainer Israel Borges – Luckytobeinamerica tested positive for flunixin (banamine) after finishing second in a $6,250 claiming race at Penn National on July 26. The 7-year-old gelding has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned; Borges was fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points. (EAAC).
  • Trainer Kenneth Cox – Not As Lucky As Us tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning a maiden claiming race at Colonial Downs on July 21. The 4-year-old gelding has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned; Cox was fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points. (FINAL).
  • Trainer Troy Smith – Rattleme tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning a claiming race at Finger Lakes on July 17. The 4-year-old filly has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned; Smith was fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points. (EAAC).
  • Trainer Jorge Rosales – Youonlylivetwice tested positive for dexamethasone after winning a claiming race at Emerald Downs on June 24. The 5-year-old mare has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned; Rosales was fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points. (FINAL).
  • Trainer Javier Hernandez – two trainees tested positive for salicylic acid (Chief Mystique won a claiming race at Belterra Park on June 10, and Fast Fall won a maiden special weight at Belterra on June 10). Both horses have been disqualified with purse money ordered returned; Hernandez was fined $500 per positive test and assessed a total of 3 Penalty Points (FINAL).
  • Trainer Lynn Rarick – Calzone tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing third in an allowance race at Canterbury Park on June 11. The 4-year-old gelding has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned; Rarick was fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points. (EAAC).

Pending Violations – Controlled Substances

The following cases include pending violations for controlled substances, those that are permitted for therapeutic purposes, but not on race days or during vet's list workouts (new cases in italics at top of list).

  • Trainer Antonio Arriaga – Jet Set Juliet tested positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Saratoga on Aug. 6.
  • Trainer Jorge Maravilla – Stretch Run tested positive for gabapentin after winning a starter optional claiming race at Santa Rosa on Aug. 4.
  • Trainer David Mohan – Shoot Themessenger tested positive for methocarbamol after a vet's list workout at Laurel Park on Aug. 3.
  • Trainer Miguel Alamo – Late Date tested positive for dexamethasone after finishing fifth in an allowance race at Thistledown on Aug. 1.
  • Trainer Carlos Sedillo – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Smooth Waters (ruling date July 30).
  • Trainer Don Roberson – Secret Life Style tested positive for flunixin (banamine) after finishing seventh and last in a $2,500 claiming race at Emerald Downs on July 28.
  • Trainer Jacqueline Falk – Gold Templar tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing second in a maiden special weight race at Finger Lakes on June 28.
  • Trainer A. Ferris Allen, III – Musical Cat tested positive for acepromazine after winning an allowance race at Penn National on June 16. (ruling date listed as June 18).
  • Trainer Andy Mathis – Like No Other tested positive for phenylbutazone after finishing eighth as the mutual favorite in a $16,000 claiming race at Del Mar on July 29. Like No Other was claimed; that claim will be voided under HISA rules.
  • Trainer Cassondra Weaver – Coyote Runner tested positive for acepromazine after a workout at Presque Isle Downs on July 20.
  • Trainer Jackie Riddle – Drinkroundthetruth tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing second in a maiden special weight at Ruidoso Downs on July 9.
  • Trainer Christophe Clement – My Royal Vow tested positive for dantrolene after a workout at Belmont Park on July 13.
  • Trainer Candice Cryderman – Dontforgethesugar tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing third in a claiming race at Emerald Downs on July 7.
  • Trainer Peter Miller – three runners tested positive for acepromazine
    • Forgiving Spirit finished second in an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita on June 11. A claim on the horse was voided.
    • Anmer Hall won a claiming race at Santa Anita on June 4; the horse was claimed by Steve Knapp. The claim will be voided under HISA rules.
    • Giver Not A Taker finished fourth in an allowance optional claiming race on June 4 at Santa Anita. The horse has since finished third in an allowance optional race at Los Al and second in the Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar.
  • Trainer Chad Brown – Forced Ranking tested positive for omeprazole after a work at Monmouth Park on July 7.
  • Trainer William Martin – Alkalinization or use of an alkalinizing agent (TCO2) on Wild Irish prior to his win in a claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on July 3.
  • Trainer Jose Camejo – Fire King tested positive for promazine sulfoxide and methocarbamol after a work at Monmouth Park on June 11.
  • Trainer Dennis VanMeter – Templement tested positive for phenylbutazone in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 7, 2023 (finished sixth after clipping heels at the start). VanMeter is also provisionally suspended as Templement returned a positive test for the banned substance isoxsuprene in the same race.

Pending Violations – Provisional Suspensions For Banned Substances

The following cases include pending violations for banned substances, those that are not permitted in horses. New cases are listed in italics at the top of the list, and active suspensions have the trainer's name listed in bold.

Postponed suspensions, those for substances yet to be confirmed by split sample, are listed with an asterisk (*).

  • *Trainer Michael Lauer – Mowins tested positive for metformin after finishing third in an allowance race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Aug. 5.
  • Trainer Nevada Litfin has been provisionally suspended for “use or attempted use of a controlled medication method and/or a controlled medication substance during the race period of the horse Dominus Tecum. The ruling was first announced on the Minnesota Racing Commission's website, where it was listed as being due to “actions detrimental to racing.”
  • *Trainer Angel J. Castillo Sanchez – Pylon tested positive for metformin after winning a $5,000 claiming race at Delaware Park on Aug. 3.
  • Trainer Hector Palma – Baladi tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing fourth in a claiming race at Del Mar on July 30.
  • *Trainer Carlos Milian – Junglherly Love tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic). Horse has been running at Parx; ruling date of July 29 is reported to coincide with an out-of-competition test, per HIWU representatives.
  • Trainer Randy Preston – Fly Home tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a maiden claiming race at Belterra Park on July 20.
  • *Trainer Jim Lewis – Hughie's Holiday tested positive for clenbuterol after winning a claiming race at Ruidoso Downs on July 8.
  • Trainer Ramon Rechy – Night Livin tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 7.
  • Trainer Milton Pineda – seven runners have now tested positive for the vasodilator diisopropylamine
    • Wegonahaveagoodtime won a $12,500 claiming race at Los Alamitos on July 4, after which he tested positive.
    • Keep Your Coil won a $25,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on July 2, after which she tested positive.
    • Catbernay won a $10,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on July 1, after which he tested positive.
    • Chollima won an $8,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on June 23, after which she tested positive, and has since finished second in a $12,500 claiming race
    • Big Splash won a $16,000 waiver claiming event at Santa Anita on June 10, after which he tested positive. Big Splash has since finished third in an allowance optional claiming race at Los Alamitos on June 24.
    • Flatterwithjewels finished second in a $12,500 claiming race at Santa Anita on June 9 and was claimed by Flurry Racing Stables and trainer Phil D'Amato. The claim will be voided under HISA rules.
    • Bella Renella won a $20,000 claiming race at Santa Anita on June 2, after which she tested positive. The 6-year-old mare has since won a starter optional claiming race at Santa Anita on June 18.
  • Trainer Natalia Lynch – possession of Levothyroxine, and a gelding in her care tested positive for altrenogest.
    • Motion to Strike tested positive for altrenogest after the gelding finished fourth in a claiming race at Monmouth Park on June 24. He was claimed from that race by owner/trainer Silvino Ramirez, and has since finished third in a claiming race at Monmouth on July 14. Under HISA rules, the claim will be voided.
  • *Trainer Bruno Tessore – Tenebris, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest on July 18 (no races or workouts listed on that date by Equibase).
  • Trainer John Pimental – Golovkin tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing last (sixth) in a claiming race at Monmouth Park on May 29. A claim on the horse was voided from this race.
  • Trainer Lorenzo Ruiz – three runners have tested positive for the vasodilator diisopropylamine
    • Kant Beat The Rock tested positive after finishing second in a starter allowance race at Los Alamitos on July 4.
    • American Cat tested positive after winning a $16,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on June 25. The 4-year-old gelding has since finished third in an allowance optional claimer at Los Al on July 9.
    • Facts Matter tested positive after winning a starter allowance race at Los Alamitos on June 23. The 8-year-old gelding has since finished fifth in a claiming race at Los Al on July 8.
    • Ruiz is a multiple stakes-winning Quarter Horse trainer based at Los Al, though he has not started any Quarter Horses since 2022. Since HISA/HIWU have no jurisdiction over Quarter Horse racing, whether or not Ruiz would be able to race Quarter Horses will be up to the state racing commission and/or local racetrack. Ruiz has not started any horses, Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse, since July 9.
  • *Trainer David Reid – Maligator tested positive for venlafaxine (an anti-depressant and nerve pain medication) after winning a claiming race at Hawthorne on June 25. The 8-year-old gelding has since finished second in a claiming race at Hawthorne on July 16.
  • *Trainer Javier Morzan – Lady Liv tested positive for metformin (a commonly used prescription drug that treats diabetes) after finishing third in a starter optional claiming race at Delaware Park on June 24.
  • *Trainer Mary Pirone – Benny The Jet tested positive for altrenogest after the gelding finished fifth in a claiming race at Emerald Downs on June 24. He was claimed from that race and moved to the barn of trainer Jorge Rosales, and has since won a claiming race at Emerald on July 14. Under HISA rules, the claim will be voided.
  • Trainer Joseph Taylor – two runners have tested positive for both methylphenidate and clenbuterol
    • Classy American finished second in a starter allowance at Parx on June 20
    • Cajun Cousin finished second in a claiming race at Parx on June 18. The 4-year-old filly has since won a claiming race at Parx on July 12, prior to the positive being called. Cajun Cousin was claimed out of that race by trainer Michael V. Pino for Smart Angle LLP; the claim will be voided under HISA rules.
  • *Trainer Donald H. Buckner – In the Midst tested positive for clenbuterol after finishing fifth in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 15.
  • Trainer Guadalupe Munoz Elizondo – Quinton's Charmer tested positive for metformin, a medication commonly prescribed in humans for type 2 diabetes, on June 11, 2023 (the New Mexico Racing Commission's Izzy Trejo confirmed that the positive test was incurred after a work before the state veterinarian in an attempt to remove Quinton's Charmer from the vet's list).
    • Munoz Elizondo is also a multiple graded stakes-winning Quarter Horse trainer. Since HISA/HIWU have no jurisdiction over Quarter Horse racing, Munoz Elizondo will still be able to train and race Quarter Horses in New Mexico. Trejo said that HISA gave guidance last year that jockeys suspended for whip violations on a Thoroughbred could ride in Quarter Horse races, so the NMRC has applied the same logic to a trainer with a HIWU suspension. Thus, Munoz Elizondo is permitted to participate in Quarter Horse races. Trejo added that the commission is pushing for a state rule that will apply reciprocity at the NMRC level for HISA suspensions, but that isn't in place yet.
  • *Trainer Reed Saldana – Ice Queen tested positive for the vasodilator diisopropylamine after finishing third in a starter allowance at Santa Anita on June 16
  • Dr. Luis Jorge Perez, DVM – possession of levothyroxine (violation date June 9)
  • Trainer Dennis VanMeter – Templement tested positive for isoxsuprine after finishing sixth in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 7, 2023 (see above, horse also returned positive test for controlled substance phenylbutazone)
  • Trainer Jonathan Wong – Heaven and Earth tested positive for metformin after winning a maiden race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on June 1.
  • Trainer Ray Handal – HIWU 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, but the equine anti-doping notice has not been withdrawn. (Attorney Clark Brewster told the Paulick Report that literature shows mycotoxins found on corn or grain can produce zearalenone. Zeranol is a metabolite of zearalenone.)
  • Trainer Mario A. Dominguez – Petulant Delight tested positive for cobalt after winning a claiming race at Parx on May 24.

Last week's edition of the HIWU Weekly Roundup is available here, and all public disclosures can be found on the HIWU website.

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