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Multiple Maryland Champion Luna Bella Returns From 513-Day Layoff In Maryland Million Distaff

Multiple Maryland-bred champion filly Luna Belle, a five-time stakes winner that has gone unraced since last spring, is set to launch her long-awaited comeback in Saturday's $100,000 Maryland Million Distaff at Laurel Park.

The Distaff for fillies and mares 3 and older and $100,000 Sprint for 3-year-olds and up, both going seven furlongs, are among eight stakes and four starter stakes on the 38th Jim McKay Maryland Million program, 'Maryland's Day at the Races' celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

Highlighted by the $150,000 Classic for 3-year-olds and up, first race post time is 11:30 a.m.

Owned by Deborah Greene and trainer Hamilton Smith and bred by Smith, Greene and her late father, Fred Greene Jr., Luna Belle will be racing for the first time in 513 days in the Distaff after having her five-stakes win streak snapped in last spring's Black-Eyed Susan (G2), her graded debut.

“She came up with some minor problems,” Smith said. “She came out of the Black-Eyed Susan with some bone bruising and we had to give her time for that. After one thing or another we got her back into training. We were debating whether to not run her anymore and sell her as a broodmare in foal, and she did not catch.

“We decided to put her back into training and if she did well, we'd go ahead run her and then decide whether we want to sell her or not,” he added. “We have her booked in Kentucky in November, so this race will have a lot to say about whether we want to sell or keep her.”

The Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale is scheduled for Nov. 8-16.

Luna Belle is by Great Notion, who has had at least one Maryland Million winner for 13 straight years. Fourth by a length following a tough trip in last year's Lassie, she won the Maryland Juvenile Fillies to cap a campaign where she was voted the state's top 2-year-old female. She began her 3-year-old championship season with wins in the Xtra Heat, Wide Country, Beyond the Wire and Weber City Miss, all at Laurel, the latter earning her an automatic berth in the Black-Eyed Susan.

“When she had that streak of wins, she pretty much dominated,” Smith said. “Watching the replays of her races, she got in some traffic jams and stuff where a normal horse wouldn't have recovered and run as well as she did. But once she got loose, she just exploded. She was just much the best at that point in time.”

Luna Belle has been working steadily for her comeback since early August, posting nine times breezes at Laurel capped by back-to-back five-furlong bullet moves in 59.60 seconds Sept. 29 and Oct. 6.

“We're very pleased with the way she's doing right now, so hopefully she'll run her race,” Smith said. “I'd like to have gotten a race into her before the Maryland Million, but it didn't happen. She's been training well and her works have been pretty consistent, pretty strong. Hopefully she'll come back and be as competitive as she was last spring. That would be nice. If she does that then she'll run well.”

Smith also entered Mens Grille Racing's Response Time, a 5-year-old mare that has earned six of her eight career wins at Laurel, was second to Grade 3-placed Beguine in the July 29 Alma North, and exits a 1 ¼-length triumph in the 6 ½-furlong Timonium Distaff over multiple stakes winner Malibu Beauty, also entered in the Distaff.

“She ran well last time. Going around that bullring you never know how they'll perform, but she handled it well. That was one of her better races. She sat off the lead a little bit, then took the lead and went on with it and was pulling away there at the end,” Smith said. “She's been a consistent horse all year, running real well. We expect her to run well again Saturday.”

Among those lining up against Luna Belle are multiple stakes winners Fille d'Esprit and Malibu Moonshine. Happy Face Racing Stable's Malibu Moonshine, Maryland's champion 2-year-old filly of 2022, won the Maryland Juvenile Fillies and Gin Talking to cap last season and ran third in the Feb. 5 Ruthless before going to the sidelines. Based in New York, she returned to be eighth in the seven-furlong Miss Disco July 29 at Laurel.

CJI Phoenix Group and No Guts No Glory Farm's Fille d'Esprit is a 15-time career winner, 13 at Laurel, and is 2-for-3 this year after a 2022 campaign that saw her win five stakes including the Distaff and run third in the Barbara Fritchie (G3). Second in the Fritchie Feb. 18, she returned a winner Sept. 29 at Laurel to push her lifetime bankroll to $777,881.

Fille d'Esprit's Jerry Robb-trained stablemate, 2022 Lewes winner Mama G's Wish; Mavilus, winner of the 2022 Maryland Million Distaff Starter Handicap; Sweet Gracie, third in last year's Distaff; Moonboots and Quiet Imagination are also entered.

Maryland-breds on the also-eligible list are Intrepid Daydream, a winner of two straight including Laurel's Shine Again Sept. 16, Isabella's Glory and Canoodle.

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Aron Wellman Joins the TDN Writers’ Room Podcast

It was a huge week for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and its President and Founder Aron Wellman. Over a 24-hour period, Eclipse swept the two Grade I stakes races run during Keeneland's Fall Stars Weekend. It began with a win by Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Alcibiades S. on Friday. Twenty-four hours later, 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner) came through with a determined win in the GI Breeders' Futurity. Both will now head to Santa Anita for the Breeders' Cup.

Eclipse couldn't quite pull off the trifecta when Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) ran a game second in the GII Rodeo Drive S. at Santa Anita.

To talk about his Keeneland wins, his Breeders' Cup plans and the latest on Nest (Curlin), who did not run well in the GI Spinster S., Wellman was this week's Green Group Guest of the Week on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland.

Wellman admitted that he wasn't overly confident with Candied. She was coming off a three-quarter length win in a maiden special weight race at Saratoga and would be facing the likes of 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole), who won the GIII Pocahontas by 8 3/4 lengths, and the undefeated Grade I winner Brightwork (Outwork).

Aron Wellman Joins the TDN Writers' Room from Thoroughbred Daily News on Vimeo.

“I'll give (Trainer) Todd Pletcher, of course, the credit,” Wellman said. “Any time you train a filly to win her debut going six furlongs and then win a Grade I race after that with just that one start under her belt, well, that is just an epic achievement. I would say I was mildly surprised by the win. We were hoping to get valuable Grade One black type with her. We thought we would accomplish that, and anything beyond that would be cherry on top of the cake. She's a very gifted filly. She's done nothing wrong.”

While Candied was 4-1, Locked was sent off at 3-5, not surprising since he was coming out of a super maiden effort at Saratoga, where he got a 96 Beyer figure in a 7 1/4-length win. This time around, it wasn't easy. Locked was caught four to five wide on both turns and then he had to battle a determined The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) in the stretch before edging clear to win by a half-length.

“In my handicapping, I didn't make him 3-5 by any stretch of the imagination,” Wellman said. “When the post positions came out, I didn't mind that he was drawn wide because he's such a big, long-striding, high-cruising speed type individual. I thought that if we could keep him in the clear, that would be okay. We just didn't want to be five wide going into the first turn and five or six wide around the far turn. But Jose (Ortiz) had to make some decisions during the course of this race. He was wide and chasing into a pretty soft pace and Jose pushed the button at the right time, which under normal circumstances probably would have been a little premature. But considering the slow fractions, knowing that it was the short stretch finish, I thought it was a really smart ride on Jose's part. It did concern me a little bit when he had so much momentum coming off the elbow of the turn and then didn't separate from The Wine Steward. I was very concerned inside the eighth-pole that The Wine Steward, who was an undefeated horse with three races, wasn't going to back down and he didn't. But you could tell that Locked was kind of reserving something in the tank.”

The one thing that didn't go right for Eclipse was Nest's race in the Spinster. She was fourth, beaten 11 1/4 lengths. In her prior start, the GI Personal Ensign, she finished third, losing by 4 1/4 lengths. Eclipse co-owns Nest with Mike Repole.

“Nest didn't have her best day on Sunday in the Spinster,” Wellman said. “So far as going to the Breeders' Cup, I think we're just going to have to evaluate her over the next 10 days to two weeks and see how she responds. Todd Pletcher is going to consolidate all of his Breeders Cup hopefuls at Keeneland, so she's already there, which is nice.”

Elsewhere on the podcast, which is also sponsored by the 1/ST Racing, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, WinStar Farm, the KTOB, XBTV and West Point Thoroughbreds, the team of Zoe Cadman, Randy Moss and Bill Finley took a look back at the dozens of major stakes races run over the weekend. Finley said that the win by Up to the Mark (Not This Time) in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. was the performance of the weekend. The team was also high on the win by 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic) in the GI American Pharoah S. Repole's pronouncement that the owners need to take greater control of the sport was a major subject of discussion. The consensus was that it will be hard for Repole to pull this off, but that if anyone can do it it is him.

Click to either watch this podcast as a video or to listen to the audio.

The post Aron Wellman Joins the TDN Writers’ Room Podcast appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Canada: Reigning Champion Female Sprinter Hazelbrook To Defend Her Title In Ontario Fashion

Hazelbrook, Canada's 2022 champion female sprinter, will defend her title in Saturday's $150,000 Ontario Fashion (G3) Presented by Tanqueray at Woodbine.

A six-furlong main track event for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and upward, the Ontario Fashion has attracted 11 starters.

Trained by Lorne Richards, Hazelbrook, 6-2-2 from 13 starts, won last year's race by three-quarters of a length as the 2-5 choice.

Although winless from three starts (sixth, third and sixth) in her 5-year-old campaign, the daughter of Bayern-Zaphia, who has had to contend with digestive complications throughout her racing career, is doing well ahead of the Ontario Fashion.

“With all the issues she's had to deal with, she's always gone out there and given a very honest effort,” said Richards. “There is no reason she can't run well this weekend.”

Saturday's race will likely be the final appearance for Hazelbrook, who is headed for the upcoming Keeneland Sale on November 7.

Bred in Kentucky by Mike Bilbrey, she is Hip No. 20, listed as a racing or broodmare prospect.

“We have her in the sale there, so this is probably her last race,” said Richards. “It's been a tough journey for her. She's been a nice horse and none of those issues were her fault. You feel bad she's had to go through all that. I like her.”

Hazelbrook posted a 4-2-0 mark from six starts en route to her Sovereign recognition last year. Her 2022 triumphs also included stakes scores in the Hendrie (G3), at 26-1, and the Sweet Briar Too.

Owned by True North Stable, she debuted with a third-place effort in a six-furlong main track race at Woodbine on November 7, 2020, in her only start of the year.

Hazelbrook returned to racing the following September and proceeded to rhyme off two straight wins.

Richards, whose top horses have included Financingavailable, a multiple stakes winner, who took the 2007 Ontario Fashion and is a three-time Sovereign Award recipient, graded stakes-placed Stormy Rush, stakes winner Dancingall Theway, and graded stakes winner Sheila's Prospect, is hoping Hazelbrook can come up with a big effort on Saturday.

“I liked her from the very start. The only thing is that she's very quirky. She has had those issues with her digestive system for a while, so that's something we've had to monitor closely. The clinic in Guelph told me it's kind of like colitis. It's something where you have to take it day-by-day, but there's no denying she has plenty of talent. She can be high-strung, so we do our best. But I'm not going to complain. She shows up every time.”

Other starters include multiple graded stakes winner Our Flash Drive, graded stakes winners Ready to Venture (GB), and Loyalty, and stakes winner Spun Glass.

Field for the Ontario Fashion (Race 10)

Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer

1 – Souper Munnings – Ryan Munger – Ian Wilkes

2 – Ready to Venture (GB) – Rafael Hernandez – Michael Stidham

3 – Hazelbrook – Jason Hoyte – Lorne Richards

4 – Spun Glass – Luis Contreras – Michael Trombetta

5 – Hard Edge – Eswan Flores – Stuart Simon

6 – Loyalty – Kazushi Kimura – Josie Carroll

7 – Our Flash Drive – Patrick Husbands – Mark Casse

8 – Vantarsi – Justin Stein – Kevin Attard

9 – Time for an Angel (S) – Declan Carroll – W. John Bourke

10 – Awesome Treat – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Steve Attard

11 – Artie's Princess – Sahin Civaci – Saffie Joseph, Jr.

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HIWU Weekly Update: New York Vet Banned 14 Months For Levothyroxine, Chad Brown Gets Written Reprimand

An arbitrator has made a final decision in the case of New York-based veterinarian Dr. Luis Jorge Perez, charged with possession of the banned substances levothyroxine on June 9, 2023. Perez will serve a 14-month period of ineligibility and pay a $5,000 fine, according to the case resolution published this week on 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).

The arbitrator's report reveals that New York Racing Association (“NYRA”) investigator Tony Patricola attended Perez' two trailers in the Veterinarian's Village on June 9, following a phone call from Fire Marshal Joseph McSweeney. Patricola found a “disarray of garbage and medical waste” throughout the trailers, and noticed two one-pound tubs of Thyro-L, leading the investigator to call in Naushaun Richards, the Director of Intelligence and Strategy for HIWU.

Reportedly, Perez had attended a seminar on HIWU at Belmont Park on March 21, during which Dr. Mary Scollay, Chief of Science for HIWU, presented on the ADMC Program. Scollay's presentation clearly discloses, among other things, that Thyro-L (thyroxine) would be banned. Perez admitted that he did not clean out his trailer following HIWU seminar, which established sufficient negligence to preclude the arbitrator from finding “No Fault or Negligence” in this case.

However, a statement made by Scollay at those seminars “could lead veterinarians to reasonably believe that they could lawfully possess, administer, and carry Thyro-L if their practice included Non-Covered Horses, for use with Non-Covered Horses.” Perez' practice includes 30 stable ponies, considered Non-Covered Horses under HISA. Yet, Perez did not indicate that the Thyro-L was being used in that manner; instead, he claimed to have forgotten about the medication's presence in his trailer.

The arbitrator concluded that Perez retained some fault in this matter: “Dr. Perez, while objectively falling into the category of a veterinarian whose practice includes Non-Covered Horses at Belmont Park, did not rely on the Agency's statements, and possessed the Thyro-L because he had forgotten he had it in his trailer. After consideration of the above factors, the Arbitrator determines that Dr. Perez's objective level of fault falls in the moderate range, and that he should receive a reduction, due to the subjective factors, of three months in his level of fault, (moderate) from what normally would have been seventeen (17) months.”

In other news this week, HIWU has released a decision on the finding of omeprazole in a Chad Brown trainee after a vet's list workout. Brown received a written reprimand with no other penalty based on guidance issued by HISA on Sept. 26:

“Anti-ulcer medications are important for horse welfare, which HISA previously acknowledged by permitting the use of anti-ulcer medications up to 24 hours prior to Post-Time, as set forth in Rule 4212. This exception was approved on the basis of published research demonstrating that a horse could be at risk of developing ulcers more severe than those originally treated if the medications are withdrawn for more than 24 hours. Given that anti-ulcer medications are important for horse welfare and are not considered to have any impact on performance or fair competition, HISA has also determined that the penalties for Controlled Medication Rule Violations involving anti-ulcer medications need to be enforced differently.

“For the reasons set forth above, the Consequences pursuant to Rules 3323 and 3328 for Controlled Medication Rule Violations involving the Presence, Use or Attempted Use, or Administration or Attempted Administration of the following anti-ulcer medications (Cimetidine, Dexlansoprazole, Esomeprazole, Famotidine, Lansoprazole, Omeprazole, Pantoprazole, Rabeprazole, and Sucralfate) shall be enforced by HIWU in accordance with the sanction schedule set forth below against the Responsible Person of the Covered Horse and any other Covered Person implicated in or otherwise complicit in the violation (within a 2-year period):

1st violation: Reprimand

2nd violation: Fine of up to $500

3rd or subsequent violation: Period of Ineligibility of 15 days and a fine of up to $1000

“Penalty points: ½ point for the second and any subsequent violation.”

Other pending AMDC violations listed this week include two Ohio-based veterinarians have been provisionally suspended for carrying banned substances, including bisphosphonates, and a trainer over possession of the banned substance levothyroxine. Four new pending violations for controlled substances have been added to the HIWU website this week as well, including three for a Class B substance (which may carry a penalty of a seven-day suspension and $1,000 fine).

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 Update 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 admission and acceptance of consequences (AAC) or by final decision (FINAL).

Note: The accumulation of Penalty Points can lead to suspensions (6-7 points leads to a 30-day suspension).

Dr. Luis Jorge Perez, DVM will serve a 14-month period of ineligibility and pay a $5,000 fine over possession of a banned substance (levothyroxine). (Final decision of Arbitral body)
Trainer Chad Brown has been given a written reprimand over Forced Ranking testing positive for omeprazole after a vet's list work at Monmouth Park on July 7. (AAC)
Trainer Jonathan Thomas has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points over a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Bay Storm (ruling date Sept. 1). (AAC)
Trainer John Guciardo has been fined $1,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points over Cuz testing positive for both dexamethasone and trichloromethiazide after winning a $5,000 claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 17. The 5-year-old gelding has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (FINAL)
Trainer Ismael Bahena has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Yammy Yammy Bella testing positive for diclofenac after finishing second in a maiden special weight at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7. The 2-year-old filly was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (AAC)
Trainer David Wayne Baker has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Gerlach's testing positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Golden Gate Fields on Aug. 28. (AAC)
Trainer Sammy Stevens has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Pandora Who testing positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Ruidoso Downs on Aug. 25. (FINAL)

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).

Trainer Keith Desormeaux – Auto Dial tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Churchill Downs on Sept. 16. (Class B)
Trainer Carlos Mancilla – Cara in the City tested positive for gabapentin after finishing second in a maiden claiming race at Pimlico on Sept. 10. (Class B)
Trainer Clarence King – Indirectly tested positive for dimethylsulfoxide after a vet's list workout at Parx Racing on Sept. 8. (Class C)
Trainer Debbie Van Horne – You're the Cause tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning an allowance optional claimer at Emerald Downs on Sept. 3. (Class C)
Trainer Mark Hibdon – D'wild Muffin tested positive for flunixin (banamine) after winning a $4,000 claiming race at Arapahoe Park on Aug. 27. (Class C)
Trainer Randi Persaud – Jumpster tested positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Saratoga on Aug. 20. (Class C)
Trainer Reynaldo Yanez – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Chapalu (ruling date Aug. 18).
Trainer Robert Leaf, Jr. – Laddie Dance tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning a maiden special weight race at Delaware Park on Aug. 16. (Class C)
Trainer Jeffrey Crozier – Orb of the Boro tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning a $5,000 claiming race at Belterra Park on Aug. 15. The horse was claimed out of this race; that claim may be voided under HISA rules. (Class C)
Trainer Ron Moquett – Lundberg tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Ellis Park on Aug. 12. (Class B)
Trainer Joe Toye – Glimpse of Gold tested positive for dexamethasone after winning a maiden claiming race at Emerald Downs on Aug. 12. (Class C)
Trainer Faustino Patino Lopez – Night to Remember tested positive for dexamethasone after finishing third and last in a maiden claiming race at Emerald Downs on Aug. 12. (Class C)
Trainer Leslye Bouchard – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Tomarie (ruling date Aug. 12).
Trainer Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon – Matty Bo tested positive for flunixin (banamine) after winning a maiden claiming race at Laurel Park on Aug. 5. (Class C)
Trainer Jaime Cruz – Animal Princess tested positive for detomidine (large animal sedative) after finishing third in a $16,000 claiming race at Delaware Park on Aug. 4. (Class B)
Trainer Philip Aristone – Field Letters tested positive for lamotrigine (an anticonvulsant which can be used to treat seizures and bipolar disorder) after winning a $4,000 claiming race at Penn National on Aug. 4. Field Letters was claimed out of this race by trainer Tito Moreno, and has since run twice more at Penn National. The claim may be voided under HISA rules. (Class B)
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. (Class C)
Trainer Cassondra Weaver – Coyote Runner tested positive for acepromazine after a workout at Presque Isle Downs on July 20. (Class B)
Trainer Jeffrey Englehart –
- Wait A Minute tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on July 18. (Class B)
- Mi Tres Por Ciento tested positive for methocarbamol after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on July 18. (Class C)
- Graywing tested positive for phenylbutazone after finishing fourth in an allowance race at Finger Lakes on July 17. (Class C)

Trainer Jason DaCosta – Poker Partner tested positive for gabapentin after winning a maiden special weight race at Parx on July 18. (Class B)
Trainer Candice Cryderman – Dontforgethesugar tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing third in a claiming race at Emerald Downs on July 7. (Class C)
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 Jacqueline Falk – Gold Templar tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing second in a maiden special weight race at Finger Lakes on June 28. (Class C)
Trainer Chris Hartman – Necker Island tested positive for acepromazine after winning the Mighty Beau Stakes at Ellis Park on June 18. (Class B)

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, 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 (*).

Dr. Barbara Hippie – possession of banned substances bisphosphonate, pitcher plant extract (sarapin), levothyroxine, and isoxuprine (violation date Sept. 28)
Dr. Scott Shell – possession of banned substances bisphosphonate; gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), and isoxsuprine (violation date Sept. 28)
Trainer Carl James Deville – Eurobeliever tested positive for the opioid tapentadol and barbiturate butalbital after being pulled up and vanned off in a $12,500 claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on Sept. 6. The 6-year-old gelding is provisionally suspended from racing.
*Trainer Shane Meyers – Mugsy Malone, a 4-year-old gelding, tested positive for altrenogest after finishing third in an allowance race at Thistledown on Aug. 28. The gelding is provisionally suspended from racing.
Trainer Daniel Kenney – possession of banned substances levothyroxine (violation date Aug. 25)
*Trainer R. McLane Hendricks – Princess Javoncia tested positive for cocaine after winning an allowance race at Penn National on Aug. 16; the 6-year-old mare has not started since (as of Oct. 11) and remains provisionally suspended from racing.
Trainer Michael Pappada
- Truckin Tommy tested positive for the opioid tapentadol after finishing sixth in a maiden claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 8. The horse was vanned off after the race; he has not started since (as of Oct. 11).
- Runaway Harry, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest after winning a starter allowance at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 28; he has not started since (as of Oct. 11).
*Trainer Michael Lauer – Mowins tested positive for metformin after finishing third in an allowance race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Aug. 5. The 4-year-old gelding has since finished eighth in the Bucchero Handicap on Aug. 23, but has not started since (as of Oct. 11); he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
*Trainer Angel J. Castillo Sanchez – Pylon tested positive for metformin after winning a $5,000 claiming race at Delaware Park on Aug. 3. The 5-year-old gelding finished finished fourth in a starter optional claimer at Delaware on Aug. 12, prior to the positive announcement; he has not started since (as of Oct. 11) and remains provisionally suspended from racing.
Trainer Hector Palma – Baladi tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing fourth in a claiming race at Del Mar on July 30. The 4-year-old gelding has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
Trainer Carlos Milian – Junglherly Love tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic). Horse had been running at Parx; ruling date of July 29 is reported to coincide with an out-of-competition test, per HIWU representatives. The 4-year-old gelding has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11).
Trainer Randy Preston – Fly Home tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a maiden claiming race at Belterra Park on July 20. The 6-year-old gelding has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
Trainer Jim Lewis – Hughie's Holiday tested positive for clenbuterol after winning a claiming race at Ruidoso Downs on July 8. The 5-year-old mare has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); she remains provisionally suspended from racing.
Trainer Ramon Rechy – Night Livin tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 7. The 3-year-old filly has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); she remains provisionally suspended from racing.
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. A claim on the 5-year-old was voided; he has since finished third in a claiming race at Monmouth on July 14 (under the name of the claiming trainer, Silvino Ramirez). He was then a winner at Monmouth Park on Sept. 3 and finished second at Delaware Park on Oct. 6 for original owner Zilla Racing Stable and new trainer Robert Falcone, Jr.
Trainer Bruno Tessore – Tenebris, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest on July 18 (no races or workouts listed on that date by Equibase). The 5-year-old has raced twice since that date, finishing fourth in Tessore's name at Saratoga on Aug. 31, and most recently ran second in a starter allowance at Belmont at the Big A in the name of trainer Faith Wilson on Sept. 15.
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 finished second in a claiming race at Hawthorne on July 16, but has not started since (as of Oct. 11).
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. The 3-year-old filly has not started since (as of Oct. 11).
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 run three more times at Emerald, winning twice, and twice at Grants Pass Downs, winning once. Under HISA rules, the claim may 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. Classy American, though listed as provisionally suspended from racing by HIWU, has since run twice in West Virginia, under the same owner with Anthony Farrior listed as trainer. (West Virginia is not subject to HISA regulation due to ongoing legal disputes).
- Cajun Cousin finished second in a claiming race at Parx on June 18. The 4-year-old filly, though listed as provisionally suspended from racing by HIWU, 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, but the claim was voided under HISA rules. Cajun Cousin has since run twice at Charles Town in West Virginia, where HISA rules do not apply, under the same owner with Anthony Farrior listed as trainer.
Trainer Donald H. Buckner – In the Midst tested positive for clenbuterol after finishing fifth in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 15. The 4-year-old gelding, though listed as provisionally suspended from racing by HIWU, has raced once at Mountaineer Park in West Virginia since the positive, finishing fifth on Aug. 9 (West Virginia is not subject to HISA regulation due to ongoing legal disputes).
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). The 4-year-old gelding has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
- Munoz Elizondo is also a multiple graded stakes-winning Quarter Horse trainer. Since HISA/HIWU have no jurisdiction over Quarter Horse racing, Munoz Elizondo has still been 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 has been 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. The 5-year-old mare has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11); she remains provisionally suspended from racing.
Trainer Jonathan Wong – Heaven and Earth tested positive for metformin after winning a maiden race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on June 1. The 3-year-old filly has not started since that date (as of Oct. 11).

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

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