Stewards in Louisiana have suspended Quarter Horse trainer Kenneth “Trey” Ellis through March 2024 after he picked up four zilpaterol positives at Louisiana Downs in February.
The rulings come just weeks after stewards in Louisiana handed out multiple rounds of suspensions to top trainers Lanny Don Keith, Manuel H Macias, Manuel Pizana, and Rosendo Valdez Jr., all of whom had multiple zilpaterol positives in races at Louisiana Downs earlier this year. Those rulings were made in early March and published online earlier this week.
As with the other trainers, Ellis has waived his right to a split-sample test and a hearing before stewards. According to the rulings, his cases will also be referred to the Louisiana State Racing Commission for further action, as were those of his colleagues.
The positive tests came from The Cartel Queen, who was second in the fifth race (a maiden) at Louisiana Downs on Feb. 22; The Geauxt, who won the sixth race (an allowance) that day; Mr Desert Streak, who won the second race (a claimer) at Louisiana Downs on Feb. 8, and Rock Solid Love, who won the fourth race (an allowance) at Louisiana Downs on Feb. 16. All horses have been disqualified and declared unplaced, with purses redistributed.
Mr Desert Streak won the Races and Aces Stakes for Ellis in 2018.
Ellis is a multiple graded stakes winner, having picked up a Grade 1 victory in Hot Dam Bam a Lam in the Refrigerator Stakes. He was ranked eighth in the country by Quarter Horse wins in 2021, and fourth in 2020.
He was given six months' suspension for each of the four positives, which combined will see him suspended until March 31, 2024.
Zilpaterol is a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in cattle heading to slaughter in order to increase body fat and muscle. The substance has been found in some horse feed products which are created in mills that also make feed for livestock.
Read more about zilpaterol in our archives.
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