The Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission has reversed its disqualification of Saffie Joseph, Jr. trainee Artie's Princess from her victory in the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes on Sept. 19, 2022, according to a ruling dated July 28, 2023.
Artie's Princess, a 2017 homebred daughter of We Miss Artie owned by Ken Ramsey and the estate of Sarah Ramsey, won the G2 Masters by 1 1/2 lengths at odds of 3-1. Informed about a positive post-race test for Gabapentin, Joseph availed himself of the right to have the split sample tested. On Jan. 3, 2023, the Texas A & M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory confirmed the positive finding.
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant and nerve pain medication which has been studied in horses for the treatment of chronic musculoskeletal pain.
Joseph was issued a 15-day suspension and $500 fine along with the disqualification of Artie's Princess, which the trainer appealed.
The July 28 ruling states: “After additional investigation and review of the available scientific literature, or lack thereof, on the effects of gabapentin in horses at the low levels detected in the urine herein, and at the timing of the samples herein, and nothing that the level of gabapentin in the blood in this sample was not detected by the laboratory, and noting that, after review of the available scientific literature and consultation with the laboratory personnel, it is unlikely for gabapentin to have had an effect on the horse. As a result, certain factors related to the penalty may not be able to be proven to the applicable burden of proof.”
Thus, the commission reversed the disqualification of Artie's Princess, ordered the purse money returned, and rescinded the suspension and fine for Joseph.
The post ‘Unlikely For Gabapentin To Have Had An Effect On The Horse’: Pennsylvania Commission Reverses Grade 2 Disqualification Of Saffie Joseph Trainee appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
