Among this week's rulings, trainer Lorenzo Ruiz was issued a combined 7-year suspension and charged a total of $95,000 in fines for three separate post-race positives for Diisopropylamine, a banned substance under HISA.

The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) classifies Diisopropylamine as a vasodilator, which is a substance that dilates the blood vessels to allow blood to flow more freely through them. Diisopropylamine is also found in several everyday items like tobacco and beauty products, and hand sanitizer.

The three Ruiz-trained runners–Kant Beat the Rock, American Cat and Facts Matter–ran at Los Alamitos last June and July. American Cat and Facts Matter won their respective races, while Kant Beat the Rock finished second.

For these three positives, Ruiz was suspended a combined six years and charged a total of $90,000 in fines and arbitration costs.

Ruiz was also issued an additional year suspension and $5,000 fine for breaching his provisional suspension by continuing to work as an outrider at Los Alamitos.

Trainer Bernard Dunham was also suspended for 30-days and fined $2,500 after his trainee, Shanghai Superfly, tested positive for an alkalinizing agent (TCO2) when finishing fourth at Penn National on Dec. 8.

High total carbon dioxide (TCO2) levels could be an indication of bicarbonate loading–otherwise known as milkshaking–which can neutralize the buildup of lactic acid in muscles, thereby helping the horse's performance.

NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 04/05/2024
Licensee: Gustavo Rodriguez, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: For the presence of Glycopyrrolate–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Flint Ridge on 3/1/24. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Resolution Date: 04/04/2024
Licensee: Lorenzo Ruiz, trainer
Penalty: Accumulated 7-year suspension, $95,000 fine
Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine–a banned substance–in samples taken from Kant Beat the Rock, American Cat and Facts Matter who ran at Los Alamitos respectively on 7/4/23, 6/25/23 and 6/23/23. These were all possible violations of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers. This was also a possible violation of Rule 3227–aggravating Circumstances (in connection with Rule 3212 ADRVs).

Resolution Date: 04/04/2024
Licensee: Mary Pattershall, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: For the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Shanghai Mike on 2/28/24. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Resolution Date: 04/03/2024
Licensee: Adan Farias, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Misty Rain on 2/25/24. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Resolution Date: 04/03/2024
Licensee: Michelle Nevin, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: For the presence of Betamethasone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Everlys Girl on 2/19/24. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Resolution Date: 04/03/2024
Licensee: Bernard Dunham, trainer
Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on 4/4/24; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: For the potential breach of Rule 4221–Alkalinization or use/administration of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2)–on Shanghai Superfly, who finished fourth at Penn National on 12/8/2023. This was also a possible violation of Rule 3313–Use of a Controlled Method During the Race Period.

Pending ADMC Violations
Date: 03/05/2024
Licensee: Wendell Matt, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Vet's list medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Dixon Tuff on 3/5/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 03/05/2024
Licensee: Wendell Matt, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Vet's list medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Fire When Ready on 3/5/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 03/13/2024
Licensee: John Cortez, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Vet's list medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from It'sanybodysgame on 03/13/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 02/26/2024
Licensee: Candelario Villamar, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Capsaicin–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Olivia's Choice, who finished third at Turf Paradise on 02/26/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 03/02/2024
Licensee: Bill McLean, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)–Controlled Medication (Class C)–in a sample taken from Street Tiger, who finished fourth at Golden Gate on 3/2/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 03/14/2024
Licensee: Ruben Alvarado, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Pre-workout joint injection violation
Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, One Smokin Moon. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Date: 03/08/2024
Licensee: Amador Sanchez, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Capsaicin–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Grey Princess, who won at Gulfstream Park on 03/08/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 01/28/2024
Licensee: Philip Schoenthal, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Methamphetamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Prodigy Doll, who won at Laurel Park on 1/28/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Marker.

Date: 02/09/2024
Licensee: Philip Schoenthal, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Methamphetamine–a banned substance–in a sample taken from Determined Driver, who won at Laurel Park on 2/9/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212–Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Marker.

Date: 02/01/2024
Licensee: Andres Gonzalez, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Lidocaine–Controlled Medication (Class B)–in a sample taken from Let There Be Peace, who won at Sunland Park on 02/01/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312–Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 03/21/2024
Licensee: Richard Mandella, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Pre-workout joint injection violation
Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314–Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method–on the horse, Ice Dancing. This is also a possible violation of Rule 4222–Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Violations of Crop Rule
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

Oaklawn Park
Joe Bealmear–violation date Apr. 4; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Joe Bealmear–violation date Apr. 5; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Martin Chuan–violation date Apr. 6; $250 fine and one-day suspension

Tampa Bay
Pablo Morales–violation date Apr. 5; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Carlos Rojas–violation date Apr. 5; $250 fine and one-day suspension

OTHER KEY RULINGS
The TDN also publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

California
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/04/2024
Licensee: Neil Drysdale, trainer
Penalty: $2,500 fine
Violation: Program Training
Explainer: Pursuant to a Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release with the California Horse Racing Board, Trainer Neil Drysdale, who was named as trainer in the official program for 'M Is For Magic (While still in the care of the previous trainer), in the fifth race at Del Mar Race Track on 11/11/23, is fined $2,500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1502 (Program Training Prohibited).

New York
Track: Aqueduct
Date: 04/04/2024
Licensee: Eric Cancel, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Jockey Mr. Eric Cancel for having waived his right to an appeal is hereby suspended three NYRA racing days 4/14/24, 4/18/24, 4/192024 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the 8th race at Aqueduct Racetrack on 3/14/24.

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“It really put a bad taste in the mouths of board members,” Ferraro said.

Beforehand, Ferraro had anticipated punting a decision on the North's race dates to the following meeting, he said, adding how Belinda Stronach, chairwoman, CEO and president of 1/ST, had called him the day before to “lobby” her position.

Ultimately, however, “the two things that came out to me [from the meeting] was just how much animosity there is towards The Stronach Group in California,” Ferraro said. “And that the letter was the thing that really killed them.”

The granting to the North a 10-week meet–to run at Pleasanton from Oct. 10 to Dec. 15 at the conclusion of this summer's fair meets–heralds quite the dramatic reordering of the operational and political furniture in California racing.

“It might be the most momentous decision the board has made in its history,” said Ferraro. But now the dust has settled somewhat on last week's board's decision, what's next?

“What we have to do now is get the racetrack operators in one room, sit down with them and say, 'okay look, this is the direction we need to go. You can either go voluntarily or the board will force you.' Remember, we control the dates,” said Ferraro.

“Let's sit down and see what we can work out with the calendar for the next year or two, three, to transition to a one circuit,” Ferraro added (more on that single circuit in a bit).

When asked to discuss the situation with a 1/ST representative, company spokesperson Tiffani Steer wrote in an email, “Craig Fravel's comments at the CHRB meeting stand.”

Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) president and CEO Bill Nader said for him, the key takeaway from the meeting was the concretizing of important details.

“We all have something now we can measure–I think that's good for the North and it's good for the South,” said Nader. “Trying to define viability or sustainability is difficult when some of it's based on speculation.”

With the vote in, “now [the CARF] have got to go back and address the outstanding points that were raised in the meeting,” said Nader. “We're moving forward, but there's still pieces of the puzzle that need to come together.”

Golden Gate | Vassar Photography

PLANS FOR PLEASANTON

The ambitious plan outlined by the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) for its 26-day, 208-race season at Pleasanton presents stakeholders in the North with a set of logistical and bureaucratic hurdles to overcome between now and then, pending CHRB approval of the track's license application at its Aug. 15 meeting.

Upon such approval, the meet is scheduled to run under the auspices of Golden State Racing, a moniker given to differentiate it from CARF's stable of summer fair meets. All told, there will be eight stakes worth a combined $550,000, with some $3.6 million designated for overnight purses. CARF executive director Larry Swartzlander said that these are “not firm numbers yet.”

Among some of the undertakings at Pleasanton these next few months is the installation of some 284 additional auxiliary stalls at a projected maximum cost of $1.5 million, said Swartzlander, with the aim of facilitating around 840 horses.

There are ongoing negotiations with the operators of the golf course situated within Pleasanton's infield to determine how the two entities will coexist. CARF's plan is for no golfing during racing, to limit public use during training hours, and to allow the First Tee community program–a youth golf program–limited access to the infield.

State regulators will likely require a “Notice of Intent” for coverage under an industrial stormwater permit, to be filed before June 2, along with other environmental compliance issues to contend with.

When it comes to discretionary spending number crunching, CARF has stated it has $900,000 in cash reserves, access to a line of credit of up to $4 million from Alameda County Fairgrounds, and that it will arrange for further “lending, grants and donations” as the cost of capital requirements become clearer.

Swartzlander said that an engineer is scheduled to visit Pleasanton in July to assess the facility for a proposed turf course and to provide a cost estimate. At the board meeting, Swartzlander pinned a rough $7 million price tag to that venture.

Currently, once Golden Gate Fields closes its doors on June 9, Santa Rosa will be the only Northern California track with a turf course.

According to Ferraro, several key questions surrounding the issues of everyday operations–“who's running the show”–the agreement with the golf course operators, and that of financial viability remain unanswered, despite the additional details offered up by CARF last Thursday.

“The horse racing board is preparing them a list of questions that we want answered when they come back in August,” said Ferraro. “Staff is working on them right now.”

According to Jerome Hoban, CEO at Alameda County Fairgrounds, the next steps for Pleasanton and CARF concern installing the auxiliary stabling, negotiating a “purse schedule” with the TOC, and developing a licensing agreement “so that it's satisfactory with the CHRB.”

“We're also developing a marketing plan for this meet and beyond,” said Hoban, calling their approach “more robust” than that in place at Golden Gate Fields. “This is not a one-meet endeavour. The confidence that has to be given to the horsemen is that we have found them a home for good.”

A key obstacle that CARF must negotiate is Pleasanton's lesser name recognition compared to Golden Gate. As an example, the DRF recently reported how the New York Racing Association anticipates a 20% decline in betting revenues due to the temporary closure of Belmont Park and the comparative weakness of the Aqueduct “brand.”

It will take time for the simulcasting handle to “pick up on who Golden State Racing is,” admitted Hoban. “I do think we could have a dip in handle because of brand recognition,” he added. “But if there's any team that could turn that around, it's going to be us.”

One of the areas that the board zeroed in on for scrutiny were the possible financial costs and logistical hurdles of complying with state environmental regulations.

“We're always concerned about environmental compliance, but we're a 265-acre property that is used to dealing with these things. This is not new business to us,” said Hoban.

“I think that some of the things that Del Mar, Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields have had to deal with, they are in a different situation with their manure management programs, with their proximity to the ocean and the bay. I think our facility is already well ahead of those facilities in regards these topics,” said Hoban.

According to owner-breeder Justin Oldfield, part of a working group that drafted CARF's plan, the most pressing thing for all California stakeholders, North and South, is to nail down an outside source of income for purses, which would take a Herculean lift in California's tough political environment.

“There are things we haven't explored thoroughly before, like historical horse racing machines,” said Oldfield. But if realizing outside purse revenues “truly is our number one challenge,” that would require a unified industry front, he added.

“I don't know of a single person on our horsemen's working group or anywhere else that would disagree with that,” Oldfield said.

As for horsemen and women in the North, the mood at Golden Gate Fields since the vote has equated to one big “sigh of relief,” said trainer Blaine Wright.

“I think people are really going to do their darndest to make this a go, keep the horses supplied and make this a reality for us,” said Wright. “I've already had some phone calls from [former owners] who haven't been supporting Golden Gate saying that, 'hey, we're planning on claiming a horse or two for you up there, help make a go of it.' And that's awesome.”

Del Mar | Horsephotos

PURSE CUTS

What the CHRB's decision last Thursday doesn't do is remove the tough economics, especially in the South.

Multi-million purse deficits are fed by shrinking handle totals–wagering on California racing was down by around 5% in the first two months of 2024. At the heart of these equations are field sizes.

During the first 35 days of racing during Santa Anita's current meet (317 races), field sizes averaged out to 7.02 runners. At a comparable stage last year (after 31 days of racing and 282 individual races), the average field size was 7.54 runners. That said, the average field size at a comparable stage in 2022 (after 37 days racing and 328 races) was 6.90.

Interestingly, the 25% purse cuts at Golden Gate appear to have helped claw back a substantial amount of the track's $3.1 million purse deficit. According to data reviewed by the TDN, Golden Gate had recouped over $1.2 million of its purse account over-payment by the middle of March.

Nader said the next step is to come to a decision about purses for Santa Anita's remaining Spring meet by the beginning of April, in time for the next condition book.

A decision about Del Mar's purses will come out “shortly thereafter,” said Nader. “They're anxious to put out their schedule for the summer,” he added.

One notable impact from Golden Gate's closure is the schism that has opened up between interests in the North and South. Earlier this year, three Northern TOC members resigned in protest to what they saw as the organization's Southern-centric approach to the problem. These feelings clearly persist.

“What's the future of the TOC? I think they've lost some credibility,” said Tom Clark, the owner and manager of Rancho San Miguel, a mainstay of the state's breeding industry. “I think we need to strongly examine how the organization's currently structured, and what their mandate is.”

“We're doing all we can to give them comfort that we're here, that we're a resource, and that we accept and hear their views,” said Nader, when asked about the organization's approach to mending bridges.

“That doesn't mean we always agree,” said Nader. “But in the end, we have to land on what's best for California going forward. And we can't isolate this to a specific region, whether it's North or South. It's got to be a big-picture outlook of longer-term vision.

“And that's why getting actual data to accurately assess the benchmarks CARF put forward in its draft license application could be a good thing in the end,” Nader added. “Northern California is asking for a chance and the TOC is saying any business plan needs to be viable and sustainable. This is where we can find alignment.”

However, “if the numbers come out [at Pleasanton's meet] and it's far below expectations or below expectations, you'd need to find a way to pivot to meet the backup model,” Nader said.

What would that back-up model look like? “The backup would be to use the different assets in Southern California, meaning Los Alamitos, Santa Anita and Del Mar,” said Nader.

While stakeholders have raised questions over the years about 1/ST's financial commitment to its Californian assets–in particular, deferred maintenance at Santa Anita and Golden Gate's backsides–the company has still made and promised several costly investments in recent years.

This includes a new Tapeta training track, new turf chute at Santa Anita, and in state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging technologies. Earlier this year, 1/ST announced the California Crown at Santa Anita, revamping the card on G1 Awesome Again S. day, in homage to the Pegasus World Cup.

With that in mind, how seriously does Nader take Fravel's threat to sell Santa Anita?

“The key thing I think was when Fravel said Belinda is still very keen to continue racing there, and she's turned down many offers before,” said Nader.

“The one thing you'd say, the transparency of putting the industry on notice, in some regard, that's a good thing,” Nader added. “I'd rather have them say it than not say it and sell it in the middle of the night.”

THE BREEDERS

Conspicuous in their absence at the last CHRB meeting was a representative from Los Alamitos.

When asked if 1/ST's letter had any bearing on his nonattendance, Los Alamitos vice president Jack Liebau said, “at the board, I think there was a perception that a threat was being made, and I don't think it was well received. Los Alamitos and 'Doc' [Ed] Allred [Los Alamitos owner] perceived of that threat and decided it would not be a party to it.”

In recent months as discussions circulated on a consolidated circuit in the South, Liebau has discussed a possible legislative fix to expand the menu of Thoroughbred races offered at Los Alamitos. Currently outside of their scheduled Thoroughbred meets, Los Alamitos is limited to staging Thoroughbred races capped at 4 1/2 furlongs and at a $5,000 claiming price.

This proposal had followed the passing of key legislation last September, which means that when Golden Gate Fields no longer operates after June this year, proceeds from simulcast wagering in the Northern half of the state will be funneled south when the North doesn't conduct any live racing.

The idea of a legislative fix to expand the menu of Thoroughbred races on offer at Los Alamitos has been put on the “back-burner,” said Liebau. But he also stressed how Los Alamitos was never an active advocate but rather a “passive observer” of efforts like the proposed legislation.

“Doctor Allred has always said that Los Al would do whatever it can do to improve racing and to accommodate all the different interests. But when you get down to it, Los Al is really something of a bystander. It's happy to help, but certainly doesn't view itself as pushing that legislation,” said Liebau.

In discussions with various California stakeholders, the firm stance the CHRB took on Northern dates prompted several breeders holding off on breeding plans until the last moment to press the trigger.

“It was very important that we had something positive to announce to basically keep giving people a reason to breed,” said California Thoroughbred Breeders Association president, Doug Burge, who added that total reports of mares bred won't arrive until the fall.

Clark said he was unaware of such a trend. “It's not like people called me up, saying 'oh boy, with the vote last week, I guess I'm going ahead to breed,'” he said.

However, “one breeder I know, his mare had just foaled and he had to make a decision. He said, 'Yeah, now I feel a lot better about going ahead and breeding again,'” Clark added.

And what of Ferraro's idea for a single circuit in the state? That would look like year-round racing with meets North and South, but no over-lap with one-other, he said.

“Long-term, I think it's the only way California racing can survive,” said Ferraro. “We simply don't have enough horses or enough fan support to continue with this two-circuit racing.”

When asked about this proposition, Liebau voiced his reservations. “It's very difficult to react to a comment made by the chairman of the board, but I think the time passed on that long ago,” said Liebau.

The finances involved with keeping facilities operational in today's economic climate are massive, said Liebau. Indeed, Santa Anita has apparently incurred operating losses of more than $31 million over the last five years. Interestingly, during the latest CHRB meeting, Fravel offered up the company's books for the state regulator to examine.

“Frank Stronach always thought you needed to run year-round and every day because it's very difficult to keep a track like Santa Anita going if it's shut down half the year,” said Liebau.

As for Pleasanton, Liebau pointed to a couple potential positives.

One is that large purses don't necessarily correlate to larger fields. That, “and I suspect the horses in the North have more starts than horses in the South,” Liebau said, adding however that he hasn't crunched those numbers.

“The people in the North deserve to be given the chance to succeed or fail,” said Liebau. “But they have a long difficult road ahead of them.”

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Between June 2 and July 4 last year, seven different Pineda-trainees tested positive for Diisopropylamine—a banned substance under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)—after running at Santa Anita and Los Alamitos. During that period, the Pineda-trained Bella Renella (Clubhouse Ride) ran and won twice at Santa Anita.

The ruling followed a full in-person evidentiary hearing at the JAMS Resolution Center in Irvine, California, on Feb. 27, presided over by arbitrator Nancy Holtz.

“One of the arguments that I made but that I believe in is that the punishment should fit the violation or the crime. But in this case, there is no connection between the conduct or the alleged conduct of Mr. Pineda and the 15 years and the nearly $200,000 in fines,” said attorney Darrell Vienna, who represented Pineda.

“This is just another example of the overreach and the unfairness of HISA and HIWU,” said Vienna, adding that he was unsure whether Pineda would appeal the decision.

Holtz's ruling is by far the harshest penalty meted out since the federal ADMC program went into effect last May.

HIWU classifies Diisopropylamine (DIPA) as a vasodilator, which is a substance that dilates the blood vessels to allow blood to flow more freely through them. Diisopropylamine is also found in several everyday items like tobacco and beauty products, and hand sanitizer.

Indeed, according to the final ruling, Pineda argued that he had “never knowingly or intentionally administered DIPA to his horses,” and that the positive tests likely resulted from the use of certain feed supplements, or cross-contamination through the use of hand sanitizers by official testing barn personnel at Santa Anita Park or Los Alamitos.

Among other claims, Pineda argued that the chain of custody of certain samples “was not done in a way to preserve the integrity of the samples,” and that the testing conducted on one of Bella Renella's B-Samples “was not properly conducted” either, according to the final ruling.

Holtz dismissed these arguments.

“Mr. Pineda has failed to establish no fault or negligence or no significant fault or negligence,” the ruling states, arguing that Pineda failed to prove that the “source was contamination of feed supplements,” and that “there is unrefuted evidence that the hand sanitizer at the test barn of Santa Anita Park and Los Alamitos was not used” by the official personnel.

Holtz also found that Pineda's challenges to the proper chain of custody of the samples failed “at the first step, as he has not established any departure from the Laboratory Standards,” and that questions surrounding the validity of Bella Renella's B-Sample analysis is moot due to the positive findings of the other samples.

A maximum first anti-doping rules violation under HISA for a Diisopropylamine positive is two years. Holtz determined that the seven separate rules violations came to 14 years to be served consecutively.

On the back of his provisional suspension, Pineda transferred care of his horses to trainer Salvador Naranjo, who in turn hired Filberto Alvarado, a former employee and groom of Pineda.

Holtz's rulings finds Pineda guilty of “program training” in breach of his provisional suspension, for which HIWU sought an additional one year ban and $5,000 fine for aggravating circumstances.

“There is evidence that Mr. Pineda has flagrantly disregarded the ADMC Program by breaching his Provisional Suspension and prior Ineligibility, and also exhibited deceptive or obstructive conduct by refusing to allow HIWU investigators to search his phone,” the rulings states.

“Throughout his Provisional Suspension (September 15, 20, 22, 26 and October 19), Mr. Pineda was seen on multiple occasions attending at Los Alamitos watching his Covered Horses train and meeting with both Mr. Naranjo and Mr. Alvarado,” the ruling states.

According to the final ruling, Pineda admitted that he went to the track regularly, “but not to 'program train' (i.e. not to provide instructions to Mr. Naranjo or Alvarado on how to train his former horses), but rather only to pass the time.”

Aside from Bella Renella, the other six Pineda trainees who tested positive for Diisopropylamine were Flatterwithjewels, Big Splash, Chollima, Catbernay, Keep Your Coil and Wegonahaveagoodtime.

These trainees all won the respective races for which they subsequently tested positive, except Flatterwithjewels, who finished second at Santa Anita on June 9 last year.

Holtz fined Pineda $180,000 and ordered him to pay $15,000 towards HIWU's share of the arbitration costs of the proceedings. His 15-year suspension began Mar. 12.

Pineda has worked in the racing industry as a groom, exercise rider, pony rider, assistant trainer, and trainer for most of his life, the ruling states. According to Equibase, Pineda has been training since 2019, winning 49 races from 333 runners.

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“As such, Horsemen are advised to exercise extreme caution when using these products in close proximity to a race,” the advisory states.

Under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), caffeine is a Class B controlled substance, which comes with a possible 15-day suspension and $1,000 fine for a first offense.

The advisory shows pictures of two tubs of substances broadly labelled “EPO-Equine,” each labelled to sell for $525. EPO is the shortened version of Erythropoietin, a type of protein called a growth factor.

EPO stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells, which contain a protein called haemoglobin that carries oxygen around the body. As such, EPO is widely known as a performance enhancing substance.

When asked if EPO had also been detected in the two substances, CHRB equine medical director, Jeff Blea, simply said that “just caffeine” was detected.

The two substances, said Blea, were found during a barn search conducted at Los Alamitos. “It was not related to a caffeine positive,” he said, declining to say whose barn was searched.

“This one I think has been around for a long time,” said Blea, about the “EPO-Equine” product. “The caution is, be careful what you're giving your horses.”

When asked about the suggestive labelling, Blea said that he had called and emailed the company but didn't receive a response.

“It's all about marketing, right?” said Blea. “They're trying to sell a product.”

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It was the eighth victory in the 10 runnings of the Futurity since relocating to Orange County for trainer Bob Baffert and first since 2020. Ironically, Solomini crossed the wire best in the 2017 renewal, only to be demoted to third behind his 'TDN Rising Star' stable companion McKinzie. It was nearly deja vu all over again on Saturday.

Off at 13-1, the second-longest shot in the scratched-down field of five and easily least-preferred of the three Baffert entrants was ridden aggressively from the inside gate by Kyle Frey and set the pace in advance of Wine Me Up (Vino Rosso) as Ace of Clubs (Mor Spirit) poked through between them. Stronghold and odds-on 'TDN Rising Star' Coach Prime (Quality Road) raced at the back of a compact group as they turned down the backstretch.

Urged along as they raced into the final half-mile, Wynstock was put to a more vigorous drive as Wine Me Up and Coach Prime took runs at him from the outside. Three and four wide, respectively, into the lane, that duo failed to go on with it, and Stronghold emerged the biggest danger down inside. Wynstock and Stronghold exchanged two or three bumps in the final furlong and a half, and the former gutted out a narrow victory before withstanding a stewards' inquiry. Coach Prime re-rallied late to get within a length at the finish.

“He was on his toes and actually looked like he was going to run in the Champion of Champions,” Baffert said, referring to the famed Quarter Horse race. “He's a stout, beautiful horse. I'm just really happy for Doc. We go back way back. To have this moment is special. He bought him and trusted me. I'm so excited.”

Of Coach Prime, he added: “He was sort of in and out the whole way. He got a little warm behind the gate and got shuffled back a bit. He's still green.”

A $50,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $700,000 OBS April breezer, Wynstock burned plenty of money in his first two appearances, finishing a well-beaten fourth at 8-5 on Del Mar debut Aug. 25 and fifth as the 12-5 chalk over a rain-affected Santa Anita strip Sept. 30. The bettors deserted him for his latest and those that jumped ship paid for it, as Wnystock led all the way to graduate by 7 1/2 lengths going a mile in Arcadia Oct. 15.

Pedigree Notes:

McMahon and Hill Bloodstock paid $10,500 for Timberlea at the 2020 Keeneland January sale with the express intent of breeding her to Solomini, who was standing his first year at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

A half-sister to Grade III winner Untrapped (Trappe Shot) and from the deeper female family of champion Minardi and the excellent Tale of the Cat, Timberlea foaled a Mo Town filly this past Apr. 5 and returned to Solomini for her 2024 produce. The sire was also represented Saturday by New York Stallion S. heroine My Shea D Lady and the debuting Heavyweight Champs, promoted to second in the colts' division one race later.

Saturday, Los Alamitos
LOS ALAMITOS FUTURITY-GII, $200,000, Los Alamitos, 12-16, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.53, ft.
1–WYNSTOCK, 120, c, 2, by Solomini
                1st Dam: Timberlea, by Flatter
                2nd Dam: Exit Three, by Giant's Causeway
                3rd Dam: Castanea, by Horse Chestnut (SAf)
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($50,000 Ylg
'22 KEESEP; $700,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Edward C. Allred &
Jack Liebau; B-Empire Equines, LLC (NY); T-Bob Baffert; J-Kyle
Frey. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $162,740.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus* Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
*First graded stakes winner for freshman sire (by Curlin)
2–Stronghold, 120, c, 2, Ghostzapper–Spectator, by Jimmy
Creed. O/B-Eric Waller & Sharon Waller (KY); T-Philip D'Amato.
$40,000.
3–Coach Prime, 120, c, 2, Quality Road–Act Now, by Street
Sense. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($1,700,000
Ylg '22 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star' O-Zedan Racing Stables, Inc.;
B-Kim & Rodney Nardelli & William Werner & W.S. Farish (KY);
T-Bob Baffert. $24,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 2 1/4. Odds: 13.70, 4.10, 0.80.
Also Ran: Wine Me Up, Ace of Clubs. Scratched: Moonlit Sonata.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

#2 WYNSTOCK ($29.40) and jockey @FreytheF comfortably led the field for 3/4 of a mile then battled #3 Stronghold down the stretch to win the G2 Los Alamitos Futurity for trainer @BobBaffert and owners Edward “Doc” Allred and Jack Liebau. pic.twitter.com/HZS2VtKenY

— TVG (@TVG) December 17, 2023

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Saldana is also on the hook for $12,000 toward HIWU's share of the arbitration costs that resulted from his request for a hearing.

Arbitrator Jeffrey Benz further wrote in his ruling that the connections of the mare (owner 5th Street Stables) must forfeit the disqualified $4,560 in purse winnings.

Saldana, 41, who rode as a Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse jockey between 2007 and 2011 prior to his licensure as a trainer, did not engage an attorney for his hearing and could not be reached for comment prior to deadline for this story. It is unclear if he intends to appeal the arbitration result to a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) administrative law judge, which is the next option for covered persons who wish to contest HIWU arbitration results.

Diisopropylamine is a vasodilator listed as a banned substance by HIWU, which means it can never be found in a covered racehorse. It lacks Food and Drug Administration approval.

Among Saldana's arguments presented at his Nov. 1 hearing were 1) That there was no proof he gave diisopropylamine to Ice Queen; 2) Hand sanitizer containing the prohibited substance was allegedly found and used in the test barn; 3) That there was allegedly accidental contamination by the test barn personnel; 4) That there were issues with the chain of custody during the testing process, and 5) That diisopropylamine is not a vasodilator but is a “secondary amine.”

According to the arbitrator's ruling, Saldana also submitted the following statement for consideration:

“The evidence HIWU has presented is very lacking. NO integrity, NO security, NO proof that the urine sample actually was collected properly, stored correctly or even transported securely. This urine sample MUST be INADMISSIBLE and case needs to be dismissed, to continue to proceed is just a travesty,” Saldana stated.

“We are in a country where we are innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and the evidence shows no proof of guilt. HIWU has failed to demonstrate Burden of Proof in this matter. HIWU has claimed that Diisopropylamine is a vasodilator when in fact by scientific proof it is not, it is an amine. These false claims and misclassification by [the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act] of Diisopropylamine have cost me my livelihood, has caused stress, emotional, monetary and repetitional damage that I can't ever get back, to continue would just be [an] injustice,” Saldana stated.

After taking testimony from both parties, the arbitrator sided with HIWU's recommended penalties for a first-time anti-doping “presence” finding. Benz noted the key factors in his decision.

“Mr. Saldana argues that alleged errors made in collecting and analyzing Ice Queen's Sample should result in its disqualification,” Benz wrote. “His allegations are vague and unparticularized. The only specific alleged deficiency in the sample collection or custody for Ice Queen was that the Nominated Person was prevented from seeing the collection of Ice Queen's urine…

“HIWU could certainly do a better job of ensuring that the written chain of custody documentation is clearer and that the labs are required to uniformly handle chain of custody issues and documentation,” the arbitrator continued. “Having said that, Mr. Saldana's obligation was to show that the irregularities in the chain of custody that he claims were present had some effect on the outcome of the testing and he was unable to make that showing…

“With respect to his allegation that Mr. Saldana's Nominated Person was prevented from entering the testing barn to observe Ice Queen pass urine, there is no specific requirement in this regard,” Benz wrote.

“In addition, Mr. Saldana's argument that Diisopropylamine is not a vasodilator by virtue of being a secondary amine is false,” Benz wrote.

“As explained by [Dr. Lara Maxwell, a veterinarian and pharmacology professor who testified on behalf of HIWU], drugs such as Diisopropylamine can be classified both in terms of their chemical structure and their pharmacological or medicinal effects on the body.

Diisopropylamine is classified as a secondary amine due to its chemical structure. It is also considered a vasodilator due to its general pharmacological effect, i.e., causing blood vessels or open or dilate. There is nothing inconsistent about the simultaneous application of both categories, which address entirely different properties of Diisopropylamine,” Benz wrote.

“Lastly, and despite the irrelevance of a substance's effects on the Covered Horse to any argument on liability, as addressed by Dr. Maxwell, Diisopropylamine is known to have a performance-enhancing potential in horses due to its status as a vasodilator, which expands blood vessels and 'temporarily decreases the work of the heart.'

“Mr. Saldana also advanced a theory that hand sanitizer used by the [testing personnel] could have caused the positive result found in the Sample because hand sanitizers often contain the prohibited substance found here,” the arbitrator continued. “He adduced no evidence on this point, and HIWU's evidence to the contrary was compelling.”

“First, the evidence was unrefuted that the hand sanitizer used in the testing barn and all relevant areas for the Sample's journey to the refrigerator and the next day to the laboratory did not contain the Diisopropylamine,” Benz wrote.

“Second, the evidence was unrefuted that the [personnel] did not use hand sanitizer and instead used surgical gloves when collecting samples.”

“Third, HIWU's expert Dr. Maxwell testified, on an unrefuted basis, that the active ingredient in hand sanitizer is ethanol and had the horse been contaminated with hand sanitizer not only would it have required a large amount of hand sanitizer to yield the levels of Diisopropylamine found here but ethanol would also have been found in the sample and it was not found here.”

“Accordingly, the Arbitrator finds that hand sanitizer contamination was simply not possible here, and certainly not at all likely,” Benz wrote.

Saldana's career training record is 88 wins and $2.5 million in earnings from 656 starts. His last entrant was on July 1, and through the first half of 2023 Saldana posted a 7-10-9 record from 61 starters.

The Thoroughbred Regulatory Rulings database maintained by The Jockey Club shows two prior drug-related entries for Saldana: A Class 4 phenylbutazone violation in a third-place horse that resulted in a $500 fine at Santa Anita in 2022, and a Class 3 clenbuterol positive that resulted in the disqualification of a winner (but no fine) in 2020 at Los Alamitos.

Saldana's suspension, unless overruled at the FTC level, will run through Aug. 5, 2025.

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The rail-drawn, 9-5 morning-line favorite Nothing Like You (Malibu Moon) enters for Baffert riding a two-race winning streak, including a nose victory in the seven-furlong Desi Arnaz S. at Del Mar last time out Nov. 18. She previously graduated by 6 1/2 lengths over next-out winner Great Forty Eight (Constitution) going a two-turn mile at Santa Anita Oct. 14.

Baffert will also saddle the green-but-good debut winner Grazia (Uncle Mo), who earned her diploma going six furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 12.

Chatalas (Gun Runner), a front-running winner of the GII Chandelier S. at Santa Anita Oct. 7, looks to get back on track following a ninth-place finish in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Nov. 3.

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“I just want to go because I've never gone out of California,” Cedillo says. “I'm still young so I don't want to wait until I'm too old to make the move. I'll take my chance right now.”

Cedillo, who has captured riding titles at Golden Gate, Santa Anita and Del Mar, returned to racing after a riding accident sidelined him early during this summer's Del Mar meet. He suffered a broken bone in his neck and was sidelined for the remainder of the meet. He avoided having surgery and instead went through a rigorous rehab.

“It took six weeks,” Cedillo says. “I was working out in the gym by myself and doing my routine. Sometimes in the morning I get up and I'm a little sore. But soon as I start working I feel better. I feel a hundred percent now.”

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Luevano was exercising a filly on the backstretch when the incident occurred. He was on the ground when assistance first arrived, while the filly ran off under her power. As of now, there have been no eyewitness accounts with any precise details on the incident. Luevano was rushed to Long Beach Memorial, where he was pronounced deceased.

The horse, a 2-year-old filly Quarter Horse named Fly From The Fire (Fly Thru the Fire), was not injured. She made five starts this year for trainer Mike Casselman and was entered in the seventh race at Los Alamitos on Saturday night. Track management has since confirmed that the filly will be scratched as a precaution.

“On behalf of the Los Alamitos Race Course family, we express our deepest condolences to Mr. Luevano's family members and friends,” said Los Alamitos Race Course spokesperson Orlando Gutierrez.

Born in the city of Luis Moya in Zacatecas, Mexico, the jockey had a total of 33 mounts during his professional riding career with most of his rides taking place in Mexico and Colorado. He was issued an exercise rider license by the California Horse Racing Board earlier this year.

Alfredo Luevano is survived by his wife, Marisela Martinez, their children, Lisbet, Alfredo Jr., Alex, Aldo, and Camila, six grandchildren and his father, Augustine. A moment of silence will be held in his memory before Sunday's Quarter Horse card at Los Alamitos.

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The $300,000 GII Starlet S. for the 2-year-old fillies will take place for the 10th time at the Orange County venue and will take place Saturday, Dec. 9, one week prior to the running of the male counterpart, the $200,000 GII Los Alamitos Futurity. Each race is run over a mile and a sixteenth.

The two other 2-year-old stakes are restricted to California-bred and or -sired horses. The $100,000 Soviet Problem S. for fillies will take place Sunday, Dec. 10, with the $100,000 King Glorious S.–a race won 10 years ago at Hollywood Park by future dual Classic winner California Chrome–set for Sunday, Dec. 17.

The stakes schedule is completed by the GIII Bayakoa S. for fillies and mares at a mile and a sixteenth and is programmed for Friday, Dec. 15.

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