HIWU Update: Parx Hall Of Fame Trainer Phillip Aristone Suspended 105 Days Over Lamotrigine Positives

Trainer Phillip Aristone, a member of the Parx Racing Hall of Fame, has been suspended for 105 days and fined $7,500 over a pair of positive tests for lamotrigine, according 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).

Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant which can be used to treat seizures and bipolar disorder, according to the National Institutes of Health. HISA regulations classify the substance as a Class A controlled medication, while lamotrigine is listed as a Drug/Penalty Class 3A on the Uniform Classification Guidelines for Foreign Substances list maintained by the Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI).

Aristone trainee Field Letters tested positive for lamotrigine after winning a $4,000 claiming race at Penn National on Aug. 4, while stablemate Jewels in the Bay tested positive after winning a $16,000 maiden claiming race at Parx on Sept. 6. Both horses were disqualified with purse money ordered returned.

After admitting to the violation and accepting the consequences, Aristone was suspended 30 days, fined $2,500, and assessed 3 Penalty Points for the first violation. The second violation triggered a 45-day period of ineligibility, a $5,000 fine, and assessment of 3 more Penalty Points. The accumulation of 6 Penalty Points resulted in an additional 30-day period of ineligibility; Aristone will remain suspended through March 21, 2024.

Aristone has saddled the winners of 1,681 races, according to Equibase, through a career dating back to the late 1970s.

Also this week, the Equine Anti-Doping notices were withdrawn for trainers Michael Pappada and Carl James Deville, both of whom had positive tests for the banned substance tapentadol, an opioid, and whose trainees were vanned off after their races at Presque Isle Downs.

No further details were released on these cases, though Pappada still has an outstanding positive test for banned substance altrenogest on a gelding.

Deville trainee Eurobeliever had tested positive for both tapentadol and bultalbital (a barbiturate), but it appears as though both of those have been dismissed.

• Trainer Norman Follett will serve a seven-day period of ineligibility (beginning Dec. 5) over Racing Colors testing positive for lidocaine after finishing second in a waiver claiming event at Aqueduct on Sept. 22. Follett has been fined $1,000 and assessed 2 Penalty Points; Racing Colors was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (ADMISSION)
• Trainer Peter Miller has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Thirsty John on Oct. 25. (FINAL)
• Trainer Jamie Ness has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Dust Devil on Oct. 24. (FINAL)
• Trainer Gustavo Amaya has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Sandpiper Memories on Nov. 4. (ADMISSION)
• Trainer John Servis has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Winnin'onweekends on Oct. 28. (ADMISSION)
• Trainer Michael S. Ferraro has been fined $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points for a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Princess Sonya  on Oct. 29. (ADMISSION)
• Trainer Ortis Henry has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Empress Palpatine testing positive for glycopyrrolate after finishing second in a $5,000 claiming race at Finger Lakes on Oct. 31. The filly was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (ADMISSION)
• Trainer Wendell McDaniel has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Big Difference testing positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Golden Gate Fields on Oct. 28. (FINAL)
• Trainer John Ennis has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Wauhatchie testing positive for diclofenac after finishing second in a maiden special weight at Churchill Downs on Sept. 21. The horse was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (ADMISSION)
• Trainer Ronnie E. Cravens, III has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Saturday's Gold testing positive for phenylbutazone after winning a starter allowance race at Remington Park on Oct. 11. The horse was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (FINAL)
• Trainer Jacqueline Falk has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Gold Templar testing positive for methocarbamol after finishing second in a maiden special weight at Finger Lakes on June 28. The horse has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (FINAL)
• Trainer Darlene Green has received a written reprimand over Highcotton Justice testing positive for omeprazole after finishing second in an allowance race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Oct. 11. The horse was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (FINAL)

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 responsible person's name listed in bold.

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

• *Dr. Margaret Smyth – possession of banned substances sarapin and levothyroxine (violation date Oct. 4)
• Trainer Adolfo Macias – possession of banned substance levothyroxine (violation date Sept. 20)
• Trainer Michael Pappada
  • Thisaintjumpstreet, Willie Wando, and Tudox Rue Majestic incurred violations of Rule 3229(b)–Status During Provisional Suspension or Ineligibility
  • Runaway Harry, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest after winning a starter allowance at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 28.
• Trainer Daniel Kenney – possession of banned substance levothyroxine (violation date Aug. 25)
• *Dr. Barbara Hippie's provisional suspension has been lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(c)(4), “exceptional circumstances exist that make it clearly unfair, taking into account all of the circumstances of the case, to impose a Provisional Suspension prior to the final hearing on the merits,” after being found to be in 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 John Pimental (imposed sanctions were vacated when HIWU accepted the trainer's withdrawal of admission of guilt; adjudication restarted)
  • Possession of Levothyroxine (violation date July 28)
  • 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 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; he remains provisionally suspended from racing.
• *Trainer Hector Palma's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after his trainee Baladi tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing fourth in a claiming race at Del Mar on July 30. The 4-year-old gelding remains provisionally suspended from racing.
• *Trainer Randy Preston's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after Fly Home tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a maiden claiming race at Belterra Park on July 20.
• Trainer Milton Pineda's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and thus his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Eight of Pineda's trainees tested positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator, between June 2 and July 4 of this year.
• 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 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.
• *Trainer Bruno Tessore's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after his trainee Tenebris, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest on July 18 (no races or workouts listed on that date by Equibase).
• Trainer Lorenzo Ruiz's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and thus his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Three of Ruiz's trainees tested positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator.
• 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 Mary Pirone's provisional suspension was lifted pursuant to Rule 3247(e) after her trainee Benny The Jet tested positive for altrenogest after the gelding finished fifth in a claiming race at Emerald Downs on June 24. Under HISA rules, the claim may be voided.
• Trainer Joseph Taylor's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Two of his trainees tested positive for banned substances methylphenidate and clenbuterol.
• Trainer Milton Pineda's admission of guilt has been withdrawn, and thus his provisional suspension has been reinstated. Eight of Pineda's trainees tested positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator, between June 2 and July 4 of this year.
• 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 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.

Pending Violations – Controlled Substances

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

• Trainer Jeff A. Hiles – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Blue Devil (Nov. 4)
• Trainer Peter Eurton – Stayincotai tested positive for acepromazine on Oct. 26. (Class B)
• Trainer Gerald Brooks – Breezy Connection tested positive for gabapentin after finishing second in a starter optional claimer at Timonium on Sept. 4. (Class B)
• Trainer Jeffrey Englehart –
  • Mi Tres Por Ciento tested positive for methocarbamol after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on Aug. 23. (Class C)
  • 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 Rodolfo Garcia – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Castellana (Sept. 15).
• Trainer Ron Moquett – Lundberg tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Ellis Park on Aug. 12. (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 Jason DaCosta – Poker Partner tested positive for gabapentin after winning a maiden special weight race at Parx on July 18. (Class B)
• Trainer Chris Hartman – Necker Island tested positive for acepromazine after winning the Mighty Beau Stakes at Ellis Park on June 18. (Class B)

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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