Of the nine case resolutions 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 most interesting is an arbitrator's decision in the case of trainer Dennis VanMeter.
In the case of an adverse analytical finding for the banned substance isoxsuprine in VanMeter trainee Templement, the arbitrator concluded that “Mr. VanMeter was not at fault and not negligent in preventing isoxsuprine from entering Templement's system. The incident was summed up as contamination from the stall which Templement was shipped into; it had been the living space of a lead pony with a legal prescription for the substance for the past five years. The arbitrator's “No Fault or Negligence” ruling means that VanMeter will not be subject to either a two-year suspension or $25,000 fine.
Other resolutions show two trainers who will serve seven-day suspensions over horses testing positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout: Juan Alvarado and Dan Blacker.
This week, a review of the horses with pending positive results for banned substances has also revealed that three runners listed as “provisionally suspended from racing” have actually been running in West Virginia, whose racetracks do not fall under HISA rules (neither do tracks in Texas or Louisiana, thanks to ongoing legal battles).
Both Classy American and Cajun Cousin, formerly trained by Joseph Taylor, were provisionally suspended after testing positive for methylphenidate and clenbuterol in June. However, both horses have made starts in West Virginia for trainer Anthony Farrior.
In The Midst, provisionally suspended over a positive for clenbuterol, has also made a start in West Virginia, in the name of his provisionally suspended trainer Don Buckner.
Eight new pending violations for controlled substances have been added to the HIWU website this week as well, including one 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).
- Trainer Dennis VanMeter, a 76-year-old Vietnam veteran, is no longer provisionally suspended; in the case of an adverse analytical finding for the banned substance isoxsuprine in VanMeter trainee Templement, an arbitrator concluded that “Mr. VanMeter was not at fault and not negligent in preventing isoxsuprine from entering Templement's system,” and the incident was summed up as contamination. However, a positive test for phenylbutazone in that same race resulted in Templement's disqualification and the order to return purse money from his fourth-place finish; VanMeter has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points.
- Trainer Juan Alvarado began serving a seven-day period of ineligibility on Oct. 4 over Evelyn testing positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Gulfstream Park on Aug. 23. Alvarado was fined $1,000 and assessed 2 Penalty Points. (AAC)
- Trainer Dan Blacker began serving a seven-day period of ineligibility on Oct. 3 over Miss O'Brien testing positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Del Mar on Aug. 23. Blacker was fined $1,000 and assessed 2 Penalty Points. (AAC)
- Trainer Conor Murphy 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 the horse Dixie Supreme (ruling date Aug. 29). (AAC)
- Trainer Jeff Mullins 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 Dandy Man Shines (ruling date Aug. 26). (AAC)
- Trainer Carlos Sedillo 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 Smooth Waters (ruling date July 30). (FINAL)
- Trainer Scott Young has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Our Davina testing positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Remington Park on Aug. 29. (AAC)
- Trainer Ronald Kinmon has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Vamonos testing positive for methocarbamol after winning a maiden claiming race at Belterra Park on Aug. 15. The 3-year-old gelding has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (AAC)
- Trainer Miguel Alamo has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Late Date testing positive for dexamethasone after finishing fifth in an allowance race at Thistledown on Aug. 1. The 4-year-old filly has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (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 Clarence King – Indirectly tested positive for dimethylsulfoxide after a vet's list workout at Parx Racing on Sept. 8. (Class C)
- Trainer Ismael Bahena – Yammy Yammy Bella tested positive for diclofenac after finishing second in a maiden special weight at Kentucky Downs on Sept. 7. (Class C)
- Trainer Jonathan Thomas – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Bay Storm (ruling date Sept. 1).
- Trainer David Wayne Baker – Gerlach's tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Rosa on Aug. 28. (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 Sammy Stevens – Pandora Who tested positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Ruidoso Downs on Aug. 25. (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 John Guciardo – Cuz tested positive for both dexamethasone and trichloromethiazide after winning a $5,000 claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 17. (Class C)
- 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 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 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 Chad Brown – Forced Ranking tested positive for omeprazole after a work at Monmouth Park on July 7. (Class C)
- 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 (*).
- 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.
- *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.
- *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. 3) 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. 3) and remains provisionally suspended from racing.
- 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. 3) and remains provisionally suspended from racing.
- *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. 3); 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. 3) 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. 3); 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. 3); he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
- 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. 3); 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. 3); 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. 3); 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), and was a winner at Monmouth Park on Sept. 3 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; he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
- 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. 3); she remains provisionally suspended from racing.
- 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 once at Grants Pass Downs. 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 America 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 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 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. 3); 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. 3); he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
- Dr. Luis Jorge Perez, DVM – possession of levothyroxine (violation date June 9)
- 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. 3).
Last week's edition of the HIWU Weekly Update is available here, and all public disclosures can be found on the HIWU website.
The post HIWU Weekly Update: Isoxuprine Case Ruled Contamination, Several Provisionally Suspended Horses Racing In West Virginia appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
