The penalties were announced after her barn at Parx was inspected June 22. During the inspection, investigators also found hypodermic needles, syringes and injectable substances. The suspension is scheduled to run from Sept. 11, 2022 through Jan. 12, 2028.

The Paulick Report was first with the story and has also reported that Pearce has filed an appeal.

Pearce began training in 2012 and, prior to 2021, never won more than 16 races in a year. During the 2012-to-2020 period, her winning rate was 11%. That changed in 2021 when she went 32-for-137 (23%). Her success has continued this year as she has posted a record of 23-for-84 (27%).

In June of 2021, Pearce reportedly hired former trainer Ramon Preciado as a groom. In 2016, Preciado's owner and trainer licenses were revoked after a horse he trained named Purcell (Jump Start) tested positive for clenbuterol in a post-race test. In the ruling covering Purcell, the racing commission noted that Preciado had a record of “multiple medication violations.” Despite Preciado's record of violations, the racing commission decided to grant him a groom's license and he went to work for Pearce.

The Pearce-trained horses that tested positive for clenbuterol were Mischievous Jones (Smarty Jones), Musamaha (Jack Milton), Relativlea (Lea), Call Me GQ (Weigelia), Market Maven (Super Ninety Nine) and an unnamed horse. Had there been just one clenbuterol positive, Pearce would have received a suspension of just 30 days. Instead, the commission used an escalating scale, with the number of days she was suspended increasing with each subsequent positive. For the sixth positive, she was suspended for 960 days.

“In accordance with ARCI medication and penalty guidelines, based upon the number of medication positives, the board of stewards finds aggravating circumstances in these matters,” the ruling reads.

In June, Monmouth Park stewards suspended Pearce for 15 days and fined her $500 after a horse she trained tested positive for clenbuterol following a May 29 race at the Jersey Shore track.

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The richest state-bred of 2021 when banking $487,400, Chub Wagon scored in eight of her nine starts at age four, and was second in her only loss. After getting her first stakes win in the Unique Bella at Parx in April by 7 1/2 lengths, she followed with wins in the Skipat S. and Shine Again S. at Pimlico, and Dashing Beauty S. at Delaware Park. She rebounded off a second-place finish in the Dr. Teresa Garofalo Memorial S. at Parx on Pennsylvania Day At the Races in August to take the Roamin Rachel S. against open company by four lengths two weeks later. She concluded her season in late September by winning the Plum Pretty S. in her first start beyond a mile.

A daughter of Lopez's homebred stallion Hey Chub out of the Lion Heart mare Takin The Plunge, Chub Wagon also took home awards for champion older female and champion female sprinter.

The evening's keynote speaker was Triple Crown-winning jockey Steve Cauthen, now a breeder/owner in Kentucky. The PHBA's Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in breeding in the state was presented to George Strawbridge, Jr., who over the course of the past five decades bred such Pennsylvania-bred standouts at GI Breeders' Cup Turf winner Tikkanen and five-time Grade I winner With Anticipation.

Other divisional champions were:
• Two-year-old female–Morning Matcha (Central Banker)
• Two-year-old male–Dance Code (Honor Code)
• Three-year-old female–Leader of the Band (Bandbox)
• Three-year-old male and male sprinter–Beren (Weigelia)
• Older male and turf male–The Critical Way (Tizway)
• Turf female–Caravel (Mizzen Mast)

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The new round of PHBA funding will bolster three key research initiatives focused on improving the health and safety of equine athletes and enhancing integrity in racing. One area of research seeks to identify novel mRNA biomarkers that can help proactively predict if a horse is at risk for injury, even for injuries that are difficult or impossible to detect using conventional methods. Ultimately, researchers hope to develop a rapid stall-side blood test that could be administered prior to a race, helping racing officials accurately detect horses that may be at an elevated risk.

The funding will also support Penn Vet's sample collection for continued development of an Equine Biological Passport through the expansion of the Equine Pharmacology Laboratory's BioBank. Samples from the BioBank are analyzed to determine baseline levels of blood-based biomarkers found in racehorses.  Once established, these baseline levels can be used to determine if blood samples taken from a horse pre- or post-race show any variations from baseline indicative of illness, injury or prohibited substances.

“The PHBA is very proud to continue its partnership with Penn Vet by providing an additional grant of $150,000 to fund this incredibly important and timely research program,” said Deanna Manfredi, PhD, a member of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association's Board of Directors. “This research program has the potential to have a very positive impact on the sport we all love and ensure its continued success through advances in preventing breakdowns, promoting equine health, and enhancing racing integrity.”

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Taking the next step in utilizing the state's lucrative Breeding Fund to enhance the breeding industry, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association has established its first-ever 2-year-old PA-sired PA-bred stallion series, with $600,000 in stakes purses to be offered in 2022.

The series will consist of two stakes races on each of two race days at Parx Racing. One race each day will be open to all 2-year-olds and the other for 2-year-old fillies.

In January, the PHBA Board asked the stallion principals for suggestions on how to enhance the program and build it. The board immediately and overwhelmingly acted on the PA-Sired PA-bred stallion series idea presented by the racing committee.

“This is a collaborative effort between the PHBA and reaching out to people who know best what's the best way to attract new stallions and breed more mares in the state,” said PHBA President Greg Newell. “Part [of this new series] is to have an immediate impact, and part is to encourage people over the next three or four years to breed in the state.”

All registered PA-sired, PA-bred 2-year-olds are automatically eligible. The horse must be registered with the PHBA, and must have been conceived by a registered Pennsylvania stallion. In 2022, there are no nomination, entrance or starter fees.

The first races in the series will be run on Pennsylvania Day at the Races, August 22. The two $100,000 stakes will be contested at 5 1/2 furlongs.

One month later, PA-sired PA-bred juveniles will be running for $200,000 purses on the Pennsylvania Derby Day card, September 24, at a distance of 6 1/2 furlongs.

“I think this is the most exciting thing to happen in the state of Pennsylvania in breeding and horse racing in 20 years,” said Bob Hutt, president of Uptowncharlybrown Stud LLC, which owns and manages Uptowncharlybrown, one of the state's most successful sires. “We will have broodmares staying in Pennsylvania and being bred to Pennsylvania sires, which will only improve the stallion colony as more and more people see what we're doing with the series.

“Other states have done this, particularly Florida, which has done it successfully for 40 years,” said Hutt. “Breeders with eligible Pennsylvania-sired 2-year-olds will get offers, at the 2-year-old sales or after breaking their maidens early. Buyers and trainers are going to be aware that the series races will be coming in years to follow. Now we have a series where we can showcase them.”

The series will expand in 2023 with three days of PA-Sired PA-Bred Stallion Series stakes.

“We're getting [our 2-year-old stakes schedule] moving along faster,” said Newell. “And these races will blend in nicely with the existing PA-Bred stakes schedule.

“This isn't a one-year one-hit wonder,” Newell continued. “Our message is anything with breeding needs to have long-term commitment in order to take the risk. We're really committed to helping our stallion owners and our farms succeed. This is a start. Next year we'll refine it more and we'll keep doing that to improve it.”

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“We are excited to partner with PHBA for their first online auction of PA-breds and utilize the platform in a way that can make state-bred horses more accessible,” said Wanamaker's co-founder Liza Hendriks. “We will maintain our normal monthly sales while adding in feature sales.”

PHBA Executive Secretary Brian Sanfratello said, “PA-breds have made their mark both in Pennsylvania and across the country. We wanted to give our breeders an opportunity to have a venue to showcase their horses. With owner bonuses up to 40% and breeder awards up to 50% we're sure buyers will take a look at our program.”

Entries for the sale will close Oct. 19 and the catalogue will be released the following day. Horses will sell Oct. 28. The entry fee for the auction will be discounted to $150 and commissions will remain at 5% on sales and 0% on RNAs.

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The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association (PHBA) announced its endorsement of an amendment that would ban the transport of American slaughter-bound horses across both state lines and over country borders. The amendment, which was led by U.S. Representatives Troy Carter, Brian Fitzpatrick, and John Katko, will be offered to the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act, H.R.3684. Scheduled to be on the House floor in coming weeks, it would effectively ban horse slaughter in America.

The organization also supports the John Stringer Rainey Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act, and has a strict Anti-Slaughter Code of Ethics. The SAFE Act, named for the late South Carolina philanthropist and former director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, is legislation that would

permanently end the slaughter of American horses for human consumption in the United States and abroad.

At the time of the SAFE Act's introduction, PHBA executive secretary Brian Sanfratello said, “The SAFE Act is one of three items we are working on. The others are Pennsylvania-specific anti-slaughter legislation, similar to the SAFE Act, that would make it a misdemeanor for anyone who causes or transports a horse into the slaughter pipeline, as well as a PHBA code of ethics, with sanctions for anyone who is a member or registers horses with our organization and is found to be in violation of the Pennsylvania anti-slaughter measures.”

The PHBA's Anti-Slaughter Code of Ethics, focused on the safety and welfare of the Thoroughbred, states that it is a condition of PHBA membership that every applicant signs a pledge not to knowingly cause a Thoroughbred horse to be slaughtered. Violating the rule results in being sanctioned by the PHBA with a $1,000 fine for the first violation, a $5,000 fine for the second, and a fine as well as complete revocation of Membership for five years after the third.

For additional information, contact Brian Sanfratello at 610-444-1050, or email at brians@pabred.com. Visit the PHBA's web site at www.pabred.com.

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Unlike other small molecule pharmaceuticals, gene doping agents trigger cells to produce performance enhancing proteins. These proteins, which often are more elusive due to their virtually indistinguishable characteristics from naturally occurring proteins within the body, can make it more difficult to determine whether or not an animal or human has had gene therapy administered. Until now, that is.

Led by Mary Robinson, PhD, VMD, DACVCP, assistant professor of Veterinary Pharmacology and director of the Equine Pharmacology Laboratory at Penn Vet's New Bolton Center, the team of Penn Vet researchers have created and validated a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction test – commonly known as a PCR test – that is able to detect the presence of a gene doping agent in plasma and synovial fluid after its intra-articular administration in horses.

“For the first time, we have demonstrated that a PCR test performed on a blood sample can detect the local administration of a gene therapy into the joint of a horse,” said Robinson. “While this test is currently limited in that it can only detect a specific gene therapy, it provides proof of concept that a gene therapy administered into the joint can be detected in a blood sample in a manner that is quick, convenient, and consistent with our long-term goal of deploying pre-race testing someday in the future,” she added.

Not only were the Penn Vet researchers able to detect the presence of this product in equine joint fluid after gene therapy was administered intra-articularly, they were also able to detect it in blood for up to 28 days. This represents a significantly robust window of time that could be useful for pre-race as well as out of competition testing.

“The ability to detect the presence of these gene doping agents in blood after local administration to joints just magnifies the implications of this game-changing development,” said Joanne Haughan, one of the lead investigators on the study. “The science is closing in on those who seek to use these advancements for wrongful means; the more we learn with each study, the harder it will be for individuals who seek to cheat the system using gene doping strategies.”

This ongoing body of research in gene doping is being performed concurrently with Penn Vet's larger multi-tiered, multi-year project to expand upon New Bolton Center's equine BioBank. Established in 2017 using internal funds from the Raymond Firestone Trust Research Grant and expanded in 2018 with support from the PHBA, the growing database collects and analyzes multiple types of samples, looking for a myriad of potential biomarkers in equine athletes. With the goal of someday creating “biological passports,” researchers believe these biomarkers could also be key in detecting gene doping as well as predicting injuries before they happen.

“As breeders, protecting the health, safety, and well-being of our horses is a deeply profound and personal priority for our membership,” said Brian Sanfratello, Executive Secretary of the PHBA. “These scientific discoveries get us one step closer to our dream of someday keeping equine sport completely clean. We are proud to support Dr. Robinson and her team of experts as they continue to incrementally drive us closer and closer to making that dream a reality.”

With the completion of a third study on the horizon, Penn Vet's researchers seek to further expand and refine their testing methodology in order to create screening tests that would successfully identify multiple gene doping agents for even longer periods of time.

“We still have a lot of work to do to better understand the nature of bio-markers and how to fully harness their capabilities, but the science for detecting gene doping is getting there and much more quickly than any of us could have anticipated when we started this research,” added Robinson. “Ideas that once may have seemed unattainable – like a hand-held, stall-side testing device – are now coming into sight as real and tangible possibilities. We just need continued support to help get us there.”

Dr. Mary Robinson is an assistant professor of veterinary pharmacology and director of the Equine Pharmacology Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

Additional investigators on the study include Penn Vet's Faculty and Staff including Dr. Joanne Haughan, Dr. Zibin Jiang, Dr. Darko Stefanovski, Dr. Kyla Ortved, and fourth year Penn Vet student Ms. Kaitlyn Moss.

This study is currently supported in part by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association and the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission, in addition to grants from the University of Pennsylvania McCabe Fund (Ortved) and New Bolton Center's Raymond Firestone Trust Research Grant (Haughan and Robinson). Individuals or organizations who would like to support the program through a financial donation are encouraged to contact Margaret Leardi, Director of Development for New Bolton Center, at mleardi at vet. upenn.edu. 

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“Prominent breeders like Chuck Zacney and Glenn Bennett stepped up to the plate with generous donations to the cause,” said Sanfratello in an email release. “Chuck and Glenn remarked that they have been very blessed and wanted to share that with those in need. Their donations, along with matching funds from the PHBA, made the grant program possible.”

Those still in need who have not applied for funds may do so if they meet the qualifications below.

• Current 2020 PHBA Member
• Breeder must have bred and currently own a domiciled registered PA-Bred 3 years of age or older and submit proof of such
• PA-Bred or Non-PA-Bred Mares may qualify as long as they have foaled in PA in 2019 or 2020 and meet other listed criteria
• Grant available will be $375 per horse up to a maximum of four horses. Max $1500
• Horse Breeding is your primary business or you’ve just lost your primary source of income due to Covid-19
• Submit a letter with qualifying documentation, explain your financial need and submit with any other information you feel is necessary

Interested parties should mail their request to PHBA | 701 E. Baltimore Pike Suite E, Longwood Corporate Center, Kennett Square, PA 19348.

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The big winner of the night was Grade I victress Mirth (Colonel John), who took home Horse of the Year, Older Female and Turf Female. She wired both the GI Rodeo Drive S. and GIII Robert J. Frankel S.

Top 2-year-old filly went to stakes winner Weed Wacker (Artie Schiller) and the leading juvenile colt was Newstome (Goldencents), a three-time stakes winner. The leading sophomores were stakes-winning filly Gotta Be Strong (Strong Mandate) and GSP Parsimony (Dominus), who captured the Curlin S. in Meydan.

MGSW Prince Lucky (Corinthian) took home top older male and dual graded victor Pumpkin Rumble (English Channel) was named leading turf male. Pennsylvania’s best sprinters last year were Bronx Beauty (Liaison), a three-time stakes winner in 2019, and Midtowncharlybrown (Uptowncharlybrown), who captured a pair of black-type events.

The steeplechase category went to Senior Senator (Domestic Dispute). PA-Preferred Female was awarded to Imply (E Dubai), who also took home leading breeding fund recipient, and the PA-Preferred Male was Midnightcharly (Uptowncharlybrown). Mirth’s dam DI’s Delight (French Deputy) was named top broodmare.

Leading total breeding fund recipient was Northview Stallion Station; Leading overall breeder of PA-breds was Blackstone Farm; Leading stallion was the late Jump Start; and OTTB went to Fairly Obvious. Bettina Jenney took home the lifetime achievement award and the award of merit went to Touch of Kindness Sanctuary.

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