Miller has been fined $5,500 for the violation and given a half-point on his license in accordance with California's multiple medication violation rules. The half-point will expire in Sept. 13, 2022.

Additionally, the CHRB ruling cited Rule 1866(h) regarding the veterinarian's list, which outlines the requirements for a horse on the veterinarian's list to perform a workout and have blood and urine samples taken for drug testing before being released from the list.

On Aug. 7, Mr. Dougie Fresh was added to the veterinarian's list for five days due to an unspecified medication administration. On Aug. 26, the horse was claimed from Race 3 at Del Mar, but the claim was voided by the state veterinarian and Mr. Dougie Fresh was placed on the veterinarian's list due to unsoundness on Aug. 27.

Earlier this year, Miller trainee Hembree tested positive for isoflupredone after a Jan. 1 graded stakes race, and graded stakes winner Mo Forza tested positive for phenylbutazone after a workout in June.

On Dec. 5, Miller was listed as the new trainer on Manhattan Up, who was claimed out of the eighth race at Oaklawn. The new owner was listed as Tom Kagele.

“Managing a large stable is a 24-hour, 365-day a year endeavor,” said Miller on Nov. 18 regarding his decision to step back from training beginning on Nov. 29. “The effort to compete at the highest level of my profession has taken its toll on my family and my health and I believe this decision is best for me, my family and our future.”

Miller said at the time he would remain involved in racing as an owner and a racing advisor for his owners and assistants.

Mr. Dougie Fresh later returned to the races and won a claiming race Oct. 11 at Santa Anita, followed by a third in an Oct. 30 claiming contest at Santa Anita, where he was claimed by Doug O'Neill. He has since begun working out at Oaklawn.

The post Miller Fined For Third Medication Violation In 365 Days appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Phenylbutazone–more commonly referred to as just “bute”–is a class 4, category C drug. This constituted Miller's third class 4 medication violation in California in 365 days.

On Sept. 2, Miller was fined $1,500 and assessed one half point in accordance with the CHRB's multiple medication violations rule as a consequence of Mo Forza (Uncle Mo) testing positive for phenylbutazone after working at San Luis Rey Downs June 19, 2021.

Mo Forza subsequently won a brace of GII races at Del Mar and Santa Anita–the Del Mar Mile S. and the City of Hope Mile S.

On April 10, Miller was fined $500 after Hembree (Proud Citizen) tested positive for Isoflupredone, a 4C penalty regulated drug, after winning the seventh race at Santa Anita Park Jan. 1.

When asked about the three class 4 medication violations this year, Miller pointed to California's relatively recently instituted out of competition medication regulations.

“Two of the violations were in morning workouts, that wouldn't have been violations in any other state in the country,” he wrote.

Last month, Miller announced that he was taking a hiatus from training, in order to spend “more time with his family, focus on overall health and wellness, and pursue other interests.”

The hiatus, which according to a press release started Nov. 29, is expected to leave the everyday running of the barn in the hands of his assistant, Ruben Alvarado. Miller, however, will still maintain an advisory position along with his role as an owner, the release stated.

According to Equibase, Miller has no horses entered under his name. He did, however, claim Manhattan Up (Into Mischief) out of the Robertino Diodoro barn for $50,000 at Oaklawn Park on Sunday. Miller is listed as the new trainer.

For the past three years–and in light of the 2019 Santa Anita welfare crisis–the state's regulatory agency has markedly tightened the rules surrounding equine safety, placing an emphasis on the role of trainer responsibility.

As such, speculation had been mounting for some time that Miller has been the target of increased regulatory scrutiny due to five horses in his care suffering catastrophic injuries during 2021–the highest number of any single trainer in California this year.

Miller addressed those rumors in the press release, stating that his decision had not been triggered by any outside regulatory pressure.

As per the Oaklawn claim, Miller wrote in his text, “We are sending a string to Arkansas but will run under an assistant.”

Miller also addressed via text the equine fatalities he has incurred during a 12-month period. He wrote that the fatalities were “100% unavoidable,” which included three horses that incurred catastrophic shoulder injuries after layoffs. These specific injuries are often difficult to diagnose.

“Perfectly sound horses and my first and only heart attack in 35 years training,” he wrote, pointing also to Rustic Canyon (Unusual Heat), a 6-year-old gelding who suffered a sudden cardiac death during training at San Luis Rey on Feb. 26.

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Miller, who did not request a split sample in this case, is scheduled to appear before the Santa Anita board of stewards at an unspecified date. This is Miller's third overage offense in 365 days.

On April 10, Miller was fined $500 after Hembree (Proud Citizen) tested positive for Isoflupredone, a 4C penalty regulated drug, after winning the seventh race at Santa Anita Park Jan. 1.

On Sept. 2, Miller was fined $1,500 and assessed one half point in accordance with the CHRB's multiple medication violations rule as a consequence of Mo Forza (Uncle Mo) testing positive for a phenylbutazone overage after working at San Luis Rey Downs June 19. Mo Forza most recently won the GII City of Hope Mile S. at Santa Anita Oct. 2.

Additionally, the Steve Knapp trained Socal Red (Lookin at Lucky) tested positive for methocarbamol, a 4C penalty regulated drug, after winning the 4th race at Del Mar Aug. 19, according to a CHRB complaint dated Sept. 29.

The post Third Class 4 Drug Complaint Issued Against Miller This Year appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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