Stakes-winning trainer Milton Pineda has been issued a suspension totaling 12 years and fines totaling $100,000 by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), the enforcement arm of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA).
The trainer had eight runners test positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator, between June 2 and July 4 of this year. The rulings indicate that Pineda admitted to his rule violations and accepted the consequences; each positive test resulted in a fine of $12,500, and an 18-month period of ineligibility.
Pineda will be eligible to resume training on July 7, 2035.
The affected horses and races are as follows:
- Bella Renella, a 6-year-old mare, tested positive after winning a $20,000 claiming race at Santa Anita on June 2, as well as after winning a $12,500 claiming race at Santa Anita on June 18. Bella Renella has been disqualified from both wins, with purse money ordered returned.
- Flatterwithjewels tested positive after finishing second in a $12,500 claiming race at Santa Anita on June 9; the 6-year-old mare has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. Flatterwithjewels was claimed by Flurry Racing Stables and trainer Phil D'Amato, but that claim was voided under HISA rules.
- Big Splash won a $16,000 waiver claiming event at Santa Anita on June 10, after which he tested positive. The 4-year-old gelding has since finished third in an allowance optional claiming race at Los Alamitos on June 24; the HIWU ruling disqualifies Big Splash from both the June 10 and June 24 finishes, with purse money ordered returned.
- Chollima won an $8,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on June 23, after which she tested positive. The 6-year-old mare has since finished second in a $12,500 claiming race at Los Alamitos on July 4; the HIWU ruling disqualifies Chollima from both the June 23 and July 4 finishes, with purse money ordered returned.
- Catbernay tested positive after winning a $10,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on July 1. The 5-year-old gelding was disqualified with purse money ordered returned, and the ruling also lists Catbernay as provisionally suspended.
- Keep Your Coil tested positive after winning a $25,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on July 2. The 5-year-old mare has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned, and the ruling lists Keep Your Coil as provisionally suspended.
- Wegonahavagoodtime won a $12,500 claiming race at Los Alamitos on July 4, after which he tested positive. The 4-year-old gelding has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned; the ruling also lists Wegonahavagoodtime as provisionally suspended.
According to Equibase, Pineda has been training since 2019 and has saddled a total of 49 winners, not including those listed above. He also saddled the winners of 55 races at mixed (Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse meets), and one Quarter Horse winner.
Since HISA/HIWU have no jurisdiction over Quarter Horse racing, whether or not Pineda will still be able to train and race Quarter Horses will be up to the individual racing jurisdictions. The trainer has not started a horse since July 4, 2023.
The post HIWU: Milton Pineda Suspended 12 Years, Fined $100,000 For Eight Banned Substance Positives appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
