Robertino Diodoro, North America's third-leading trainer by wins in 2020, was handed a $3,500 fine and had three horses disqualified from previous races at Oaklawn Park on Monday after they tested positive for Class 4 substances, Thoroughbred Daily News reports.
The punishment entailed four separate rulings, with one each disqualifying the offending horses and the fourth issuing the fine for failing to meet the Arkansas State Racing Commission's “absolute insurer” guidelines for trainers.
Two of the horses tested positive for triamcinolone acetonide, typically used to treat arthritis. Adheretome was taken down from first in a March 19 claiming race at Oaklawn Park after the substance was found in a post-race test, while Weekend Madness was disqualified from fifth after testing positive following a March 1 maiden claimer.
Moment was disqualified from first in an April 3 waver claiming race after testing positive for the relaxant methocarbamol, which can treat exercise-induced muscle soreness.
Diodoro did not immediately indicate to the TDN whether he would appeal the rulings.
Diodoro finished the 2020 Oaklawn Park meet as the track's leading trainer with 52 wins, ahead of Steve Asmussen with 49. If the disqualifications are not appealed successfully, Diodoro's win total would only decrease by one, by virtue of also having the runner-up in Moment's April 3 victory.
Read more at Thoroughbred Daily News.
The post Diodoro Fined $3,500, Horses Disqualified For Drug Positives appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
