The most severe 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), is a 12-year suspension and $100,000 in fines for trainer Milton Pineda, who had eight horses test positive for the vasodilator diisopropylamine, a banned substance.
Other major case resolutions published in the past week include a three-year suspension and $25,000 fine for trainer John Pimental (possession of levothyroxine and a positive test for methamphetamine); a five-month suspension and $3,500 fine for trainer Nevada Litfin (use or attempted use of a controlled medication method and/or a controlled medication substance during the race period); and a 30-day suspension and $2,500 for trainer Carlos Lopez (TC02).
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) and five for violations of the intra-articular injection rule.
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 Milton Pineda has been issued a suspension totaling 12 years and fines totaling $100,000 after the trainer had eight runners test positive for the banned substance diisopropylamine, a vasodilator, between June 2 and July 4 of this year. More details are available here. (AAC)
- Trainer John Pimental has been issued a suspension totaling three years (July 28, 2023, through July 28, 2026) and fines totaling $25,000 over a charge for possession of the banned substance levothyroxine and a positive test for methamphetamine in trainee Golovkin. Each instance resulted in an 18-month suspension and $12,500 fine. Golovkin tested positive after finishing last (sixth) in a claiming race at Monmouth Park on May 29; a claim on the horse was voided from this race. Golovkin's results from races on June 23 and July 14 (both at Monmouth) have also been voided, and the horse will serve a period of ineligibility for at least 60 days from July 28. (AAC)
- Trainer Nevada Litfin has been suspended a total of five months and issued a $3,500 fine for “use or attempted use of a controlled medication method and/or a controlled medication substance during the race period” of the horse Dominus Tecum. The ruling was first announced on the Minnesota Racing Commission's website, where it was listed as being due to “actions detrimental to racing.” Further details are available here. (AAC)
- Trainer Carlos Lopez will serve a 30-day period of ineligibility and pay a $2,500 fine over the alkalinization or use of an alkalinizing agent (TCO2) on two trainees on Aug. 10: I Said Hey ran fourth as the mutual favorite in a $10,000 claiming race at Belterra Park, and Brodytheoxman ran fourth as the mutual favorite in a $5,000 claiming race at Belterra Park. Both horses were disqualified with purse money ordered returned; Lopez was also assessed 3 Penalty Points. The two positives were treated as one violation under HISA guidelines. (AAC)
- Trainer Domenick Schettino began serving a seven-day period of ineligibility on Sept. 23 over Fast Study testing positive for levamisole after finishing second in a maiden claiming race at Belmont Park on July 1. The 3-year-old gelding was disqualified with purse money ordered returned; Schettino was fined $1,000 and assessed 2 Penalty Points. (AAC)
- Trainer Jose Camejo began serving a seven-day period of ineligibility on Sept. 23 over Fire King testing positive for promazine sulfoxide and methocarbamol after a work at Monmouth Park on June 11. Camejo was fined $1,500 and assessed 3.5 Penalty Points. (AAC)
- Trainer Norm Casse 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 Mo Fight. (FINAL)
- Trainer Michael Matz 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 Late Frost. (AAC)
- Trainer Robert Klesaris has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Battalion testing positive for phenylbutazone after winning a starter allowance at Laurel Park on Aug. 12. Battalion has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (FINAL)
- Trainer James Toner has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Commandeer testing positive for phenylbutazone after winning an allowance at Colonial Downs on Aug. 3. The horse has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (FINAL)
- Trainer Jennifer Nunnally has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Seraphimzale testing positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Emerald Downs on Aug. 13. (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 Jonathan Thomas – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Bay Storm (ruling date Sept. 1).
- Trainer Conor Murphy – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Dixie Supreme (ruling date Aug. 29).
- Trainer Jeff Mullins – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Dandy Man Shines (ruling date Aug. 26).
- Trainer Dan Blacker – Miss O'Brien tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Del Mar on Aug. 23. (Class B)
- 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 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 Miguel Alamo – Late Date tested positive for dexamethasone after finishing fifth in an allowance race at Thistledown on Aug. 1. (Class C)
- Trainer Carlos Sedillo – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Smooth Waters (ruling date July 30).
- 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)
- Trainer Dennis VanMeter – Templement tested positive for phenylbutazone in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 7, 2023 (finished sixth after clipping heels at the start). VanMeter is also provisionally suspended as Templement returned a positive test for the banned substance isoxsuprene in the same race. (Class C, banned)
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 R. McLane Hendricks – Princess Javoncia tested positive for cocaine after winning an allowance race at Penn National on Aug. 16.
- 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.
- Runaway Harry, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest after winning a starter allowance at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 28.
- *Trainer Michael Lauer – Mowins tested positive for metformin after finishing third in an allowance race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Aug. 5.
- *Trainer Angel J. Castillo Sanchez – Pylon tested positive for metformin after winning a $5,000 claiming race at Delaware Park on Aug. 3.
- Trainer Hector Palma – Baladi tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing fourth in a claiming race at Del Mar on July 30.
- Trainer Carlos Milian – Junglherly Love tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic). Horse has been running at Parx; ruling date of July 29 is reported to coincide with an out-of-competition test, per HIWU representatives.
- Trainer Randy Preston – Fly Home tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a maiden claiming race at Belterra Park on July 20.
- *Trainer Jim Lewis – Hughie's Holiday tested positive for clenbuterol after winning a claiming race at Ruidoso Downs on July 8.
- Trainer Ramon Rechy – Night Livin tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 7.
- 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. He was claimed from that race by owner/trainer Silvino Ramirez, and has since finished third in a claiming race at Monmouth on July 14. Under HISA rules, the claim will be voided.
- Trainer Bruno Tessore – Tenebris, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest on July 18 (no races or workouts listed on that date by Equibase).
- 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 since finished second in a claiming race at Hawthorne on July 16.
- 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.
- 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 won a claiming race at Emerald on July 14. Under HISA rules, the claim will 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
- 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 by trainer Michael V. Pino for Smart Angle LLP; the claim will be voided under HISA rules.
- Trainer Donald H. Buckner – In the Midst tested positive for clenbuterol after finishing fifth in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 15.
- 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).
- Munoz Elizondo is also a multiple graded stakes-winning Quarter Horse trainer. Since HISA/HIWU have no jurisdiction over Quarter Horse racing, Munoz Elizondo will still be 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 is 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
- Dr. Luis Jorge Perez, DVM – possession of levothyroxine (violation date June 9)
- Trainer Dennis VanMeter – Templement tested positive for isoxsuprine after finishing sixth in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 7, 2023 (see above, horse also returned positive test for controlled substance phenylbutazone)
- Trainer Jonathan Wong – Heaven and Earth tested positive for metformin after winning a maiden race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on June 1.
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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