daniel pita | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gulfstream Park Suspends Five Trainers For Violating Clenbuterol Policy

Gulfstream Park has suspended five trainers for violating the Hallandale Beach, Fla., house rules concerning use of the bronchodilator clenbuterol. The track announced the suspensions after conducting out-of-competition tests, using both blood and hair samples, in 10 different barns – with five of the 10 trainers returning clean tests. A total of 12 horses from the five suspended trainers tested positive for the drug that is designed to treat airway obstruction but can have anabolic steroidal effects.

Suspended were Georgina Baxter, Rohan Crichton, Daniel Pita, Peter Walder and Gilberto Zerpa. The suspensions range from 10 to 40 days depending on the number of violations a trainer and went into effect Oct. 1. Gulfstream did not identify the length of each trainer's suspension. The trainers also have been fined $1,000 per violation, with the money going directly to support Thoroughbred aftercare initiatives.

Gulfstream Park enacted the restriction on clenbuterol as a house rule at the beginning of the 2019/2020 championship meet to further address and implement improved safety, transparency and accountability standards.

“As we have said before, individuals who do not embrace the rules and safety measures that put horse and rider safety above all else will have no place at any 1/ST racetrack,” said Aidan Butler, chief operating officer, 1/ST Racing, which owns Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita, Pimlico, Laurel Park, and Golden Gate Fields. “At 1/ST we are committed to achieving the highest standard of horse care and safety. We expect that the stakeholders who race and train at our facilities share in that commitment.”

Horses entered by the suspended trainers will be scratched and they will not be permitted to enter any horse they train for any race at 1/ST Racing venues until the completion of the suspension.

On Oct. 1, six horses were listed as stewards scratches, including three trained by Crichton, two by Baxter, and one by Walder.

To return to racing, the horses must also submit to follow up testing and have clean blood and urine samples. The twelve affected horses will be permitted to train as a part of their daily care and exercise routines.

Because of the absence of a racing commission and deregulation imposed by former Gov. Rick Scott, many of the rules that govern Florida racing are done by the racetracks in the way of house rules. It isn't clear if suspensions resulting from violation of house rules are automatically recognized by other racing states. Gulfstream Park did not indicate whether a suspended trainer's horses (those that did not test positive) would be allowed to race under the name of another trainer during the period of suspension.

Additional barns have been tested, with results pending.

Click here for the current Gulfstream Park Condition Book Rules.

The post Gulfstream Park Suspends Five Trainers For Violating Clenbuterol Policy appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Princess Secret Out Of Juvenile Fillies After Failing Out-Of-Competition Drug Test

Princess Secret, a 2-year-old filly owned and trained by Daniel Pita, will not be permitted to enter the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies after an Oct. 26 blood test administered by the Breeders' Cup Out-of-Competition Program revealed the presence of Stanozolol, an anabolic steroid that is specifically prohibited by Breeders' Cup under its condition of entry.

Confirmation analysis was done following the positive screening result.

Any horse testing positive for anabolic steroids or other ARCI prohibited substances in a Breeders' Cup out-of-competition test sample during the six months prior to the Breeders' Cup World Championships is ineligible to participate in the Championships.

All out-of-competition samples are sent to the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at the University of California-Davis for testing. The lab is certified by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) and the executive council of the IFHA has also specifically endorsed the testing protocols of the Breeders' Cup.

“Breeders' Cup out-of-competition testing is done to the highest world standards and is vital to ensuring the integrity of the World Championships. All horses pre-entered for the Breeders' Cup are subject to our stringent medication and testing protocols and must meet these requirements in order to compete,” said Breeders' Cup President & CEO Drew Fleming. “Breeders' Cup will continue its work to ensure the safety and the integrity of our sport, including our strong support of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act and other progressive reforms for Thoroughbred racing in the U.S. through our involvement in the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition.”

Learn more about the Breeders' Cup's out-of-competition testing program from this 2019 Paulick Report feature.

The post Princess Secret Out Of Juvenile Fillies After Failing Out-Of-Competition Drug Test appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

FSS My Dear Girl Contender Princess Secret ‘Doesn’t Like To Lose’

Princess Secret is probably the most talented filly in Saturday's My Dear Girl at Gulfstream Park, but the daughter of Khozan is without a doubt the most battle-tested entrant in the $400,000 FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes final at Gulfstream Park.

The My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile two-turn test for 2-year-old fillies, and the In Reality, the 1 1/16-mile open-division final for juveniles, will be joined on Saturday's program by the $150,000 FSS Wildcat Heir, a mile race for 3-year-olds and up. All three stakes are for horses sired by accredited Florida Stallions. Supporting stakes will include the $75,000 Armed Forces, a mile turf stakes for 2-year-olds; the $75,000 My Dear Peggy, a mile turf stakes for juvenile fillies; and the $75,000 Hollywood Beach, a five-furlong turf dash for 2-year-olds.

Owned and trained by Daniel Pita, Princess Secret had things pretty much her own way in her May 7 debut, in which she shook off mild early pressure and drew off to a four-length triumph. Since then, the daughter of Khozan has had to fight for everything she's gotten, including a hard-fought victory in the $200,000 Susan's Girl, the seven-furlong second leg of the Florida Sire Stakes series Aug. 29.

“She has a will to fight in every race. She doesn't like to lose. Even when things don't go her way, she finds a way to overcome it or almost overcome it,” Pita said. “You could make an argument that if a couple things went her way, we might be talking about an undefeated filly.”

In her second career start, Princess Secret showed her grit when she took on the boys in the first allowance race of the year, overcoming considerable bumping at the start while rallying to second. She set a pressured pace before being caught by Go Jo Jo Go in the $100,000 Desert Vixen, the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes, but battled back to save the place.

“Things happen in races and you have to deal with those things. It's unfortunate when things don't go your way,” Pita said.

In the Susan's Girl, Princess Secret bumped with Go Jo Jo Go shortly after the start, rushed up to set a pressured pace, and edged away to victory by three-quarters of a length over late-running Oh Deborah.

Pita is confident that Princess Secret will show the same talent and determination around two turns Saturday.

“Any doubt we might have had about her getting a mile and a sixteenth was eased in her [Sept. 18) workout. She went six furlongs in 1:14-and-change very easily with a long, long gallop-out, strong gallop-out,” Pita said. “I think she will have no issue with the mile and a sixteenth. If she's good enough to beat the field, that's a different story. I don't think distance is going to be the factor that will get her beat.”

Miguel Vasquez has the return call on Princess Secret, who was purchased for $30,000 at the 2019 OBS October sale.

Stonehedge LLC's Oh Deborah is set to make her third career start in the My Dear Girl, after debuting with a 3 ¼-length victory July 19 and finishing second in the Susan's Girl, in which she battled through the stretch with Princess Secret before settling for second.

“She missed a lot of time. She hurt herself in the stall and missed the first leg and also missed training for 10 to 12 days, so I think that might have compromised her a little,” trainer Ralph Nicks said. “That being said, she ran pretty darn good. We expect her to run well.”

Samy Camacho has the call aboard the daughter of Winslow Homer.

Nicks is also slated to saddle Bell Racing LLC's Big Rings for a start in the My Dear Girl. The daughter of The Big Beat debuted with a nine-length victory at 6 ½ furlongs Sept. 6.

Emisael Jaramillo has the return mount on Big Rings.

Michael Yates-trained Go Jo Jo Go will also represent Stonehedge LLC in the My Dear Girl. The daughter of Khozan broke her maiden at 21-1 while winning the Desert Vixen in her fourth career start, rallying from well off the pace to win by 1 ¼ lengths.

Leonel Reyes has the record mount Saturday.

Ashley Quartarolo's Lilac Lace is scheduled to make her first start in the Florida Sire Stakes series after debuting with a 1 ¾-length debut victory at Keeneland July 19 and finishing fourth in the Adirondack (G2) at Saratoga Aug. 12.

Edgard Zayas is slated to ride the Anthony Quartarolo-trained daughter of Hi Cotton.

Karl Glassman and Cathi Glassman's Restofthestory is set to make her FSS debut in the My Dear Girl after graduating from the maiden ranks in her second career start. The Eddie Plesa Jr.-trained daughter of Jess's Dream, who held gamely to finish second in her debut after engaging in speed duel, romped to victory by 3 ½ lengths Aug. 29 under Angel Arroyo, who has the return call Saturday.

Remington Oaks Stable and trainer Steve Dwoskin's Alluramore, who finished fourth in the both Desert Vixen and the Susan's Girl to kick off her career; NBS Stable's Splash Cash, who captured a six-furlong maiden race at Prairie Meadows Aug. 19; A 1 A Racing's Tamiami, a Todd Pletcher-trained debut winner who finished off the board in the Dr. Fager; and Arindel's Freak, a maiden who finished third in the Desert Vixen, are also entered in the My Dear Girl.

The post FSS My Dear Girl Contender Princess Secret ‘Doesn’t Like To Lose’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

Princess Secret Scores Hard-Earned Victory In FSS Susan’s Girl

Princess Secret shook off an upset in the $100,000 Desert Vixen four weeks ago and a stretch-long bid Saturday by a relentless Oh Deborah to score a hard-earned victory in the $200,000 Susan's Girl, the second leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes for juveniles sired by accredited Florida stallions at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The Susan's Girl, a seven-furlong stakes for fillies, co-headlined Saturday's program with the $200,000 Affirmed, a seven-furlong open division, which were supported by the $75,000 Proud Truth, a mile turf stakes for 2-year-olds, and the $75,000 Sharp Susan, a mile turf stakes for juvenile fillies. All four stakes were included in the six-race sequence for the Rainbow 6 on a day when a mandatory payout was held.

Princess Secret, who finished second in the first leg of the Florida Sire Stakes Series as the even-money favorite for owner/trainer Daniel Pita, came through in the Susan's Girl, scoring by three-quarters of a lengths over Oh Deborah as the 6-5 favorite. The daughter of Khozan chased longshot pacesetter Lyrical during fractions of 22.64 and 45.22 seconds for the first half-mile before moving to the lead on the turn into the homestretch, only to immediately meet an outside challenge from Oh Deborah.

Princess Secret responded gamely to jockey Miguel Vasquez's urging to prevail over Oh Deborah, completing seven furlongs in 1:23.02.

“She's a very gutsy filly. She doesn't like to lose,” Pita said.

Making her first start since winning her July 19 debut by 3 1/4 lengths, Oh Deborah finished four lengths clear of third-place finisher Go Jo Jo Go.

Princess Secret, who was purchased for $30,000 at the 2019 OBS October sale, debuted at Gulfstream with an impressive four-length triumph May 7. The Florida-bred filly returned two months later to finish a close second against the boys in the first allowance race for 2-year-olds of the Spring/Summer Meet to earn favoritism while facing fillies in the Desert Vixen. She set an early pace before being overtaken by Go Jo Jo Go in the stretch.

“This is hope for when you go to the sales and pick yearlings. We don't have millions of dollars. We always try to get some sort of bargain. She was a nice purchase by a stallion that seems to get nice runners. We were lucky enough to get her,” Pita said.

Pita is confident that Princess Secret will carry her speed around two turns in the $400,000 My Dear Girl, the 1 1/16-mile finale of the Florida Sires Stakes series Sept. 26.

“I think breeding is going to be the biggest factor in the next leg of the series. I think she showed it today,” Pita said. “Hopefully, she'll come out of the race in good order and we'll see you in four weeks.”

The post Princess Secret Scores Hard-Earned Victory In FSS Susan’s Girl appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post