Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, June 13-19

Every week, the TDN 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.

The TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)-related rulings from the same week. These will include decisions from around the country.

California

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 06/16/2023

Licensee: Ian Kruljac, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer:  Trainer Ian Kruljac, who started the horse Closeau, that finished third in the seventh race on April 8, 2023, at Santa Anita Park is fined $1,000.00 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Rule #1843.4 (Multiple Medication Violations (MMV) – Expires 6/16/24) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1887(a) (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1843(a)(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances and Rule #1843.1(b) (Prohibited Drug Substances -Methocarbamol [Class 4]). This is Ian Kruljac's second offense in 365 days. Mr. Kruljac has accumulated one (1) MMV point.

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 06/16/2023

Licensee: Jeff Mullins, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: Trainer Jeff Mullins, who worked the horse Numero Dix for removal from the Veterinarian's List on April 5, 2023, at Santa Anita Park, is fined $1,000 and assessed one half (1/2) point in accordance with California Horse Racing Board Rule #1843.4(a) (Multiple Medication Violations (MMV) – Expires June 16, 2024) pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1887 (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1866(h)(i) (Veterinarian's List), #1844(d)(5) (Authorized Medication), #1843(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances) and Rule #1843.1(b) (Prohibited Drug Substances – Methocarbamol [Class 4]). This is Jeff Mullins second offense in 365 days. Mr. Mullins has accumulated two and a half (2 1/2) MMV points.

Track: Santa Anita

Date: 06/18/2023

Licensee: Armando Aguilar, apprentice jockey

Penalty: Four-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: Apprentice Jockey Armando Aguilar, who rode Warrior's Moon in the fourth race at Santa Anita Park on June 17, 2023, is suspended for 4 racing days (June 25, July 1, 2, and 3, 2023) for failure to maintain a straight course in the stretch causing interference resulting in the disqualification of his mount from fourth to fifth; a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – careless riding), second offense in last sixty days.

Florida

The following was taken from the ARCI's “recent rulings” webpage.

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/09/2023

Licensee: David Fisher, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medications violation

Explainer: STIPULATION AND CONSENT ORDER # 2023-008661 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = BETAMETHASONE. “LOVIN MAKES CENTS” *FINE PAID TO GSP/BOR; PURSE RETURNED TO GSP*

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/9/2023

Licensee: Efren Loza, trainer

Penalty: Fifteen-day suspension, $500 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: FINAL ORDER # 2022-042344 – F.S. 550.2415 VIOLATION = 1-Hydroxyethyl Promazine Sulfoxide. “STAR JUANCHO” $500 Fine due 7/9/23; 15 day suspension – 7/10/23 – through and including 7/25/23; Loss of Purse.

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/06/2023

Licensee: Ronald Spatz, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2022-057680 – F.S. 550.2415 VIOLATION = DEXAMETHASONE. “IRONY” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/06/2023

Licensee: Ronald Spatz, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2023-004641 – F.S. 550.2415 VIOLATION = DEXAMETHASONE. “LOVE HER LOTS” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/06/2023

Licensee: Kelsey Danner, trainer

Penalty: $500 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2023-002335 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = ALBUTEROL. “VIBURNUM” $500 FINE DUE 6/21/23

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/06/2023

Licensee: Kelsey Danner, trainer

Penalty: $500 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2022-045777 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = METHOCARBAMOL. “MR. TITO'S” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 06/06/2023

Licensee: Jose Garoffalo, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medications violation

Explainer: STEWARD'S RULING FINAL ORDER # 2022-047256 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = METHOCARBAMOL. “VINNIE VAN GO” $1000 FINE DUE 6/21/23

Track: Gulfstream Park

Date: 05/31/2023

Licensee: Reynaldo Yanez, trainer

Penalty: $1,000 fine

Violation: Medication violation

Explainer: STEWARDS RULING FINAL ORDER # 2023-018909 – F.S.550.2415 VIOLATION = 5-HYDROXYDANTROLENE. “HEIR TO THE ROAR”

New York

Track: Belmont Park

Date: 06/17/2023

Licensee: Irad Ortiz, jockey

Penalty: Three-day suspension

Violation: Careless riding

Explainer: For having waived his right to an appeal Jockey Mr. Irad Ortiz is hereby suspended three (3) NYRA racing days June 25th 2023, June 30th 2023, July 1st 2023 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the third race at Belmont park on June 11th 2023.

NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit's “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

This does not include the voided claim rulings which were sent to the TDN directly. Some of these rulings are from prior weeks as they were not reported contemporaneously.

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

Violations of Crop Rule

Delaware Park

Darwin Rodriguez – violation date June 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Andry Gabriel Blanco – violation date June 17; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Finger Lakes

Jose Alberto Baez – violation date June 19; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Hawthorne

Alexis Centeno – violation date June 15; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Thistledown

Víctor Manuel Severino – violation date June 13; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 1-3 strikes over the limit

Yuri Sanez Yaranga – violation date June 14; $250 fine and one-day suspension, “excess” strikes

Shoeing Violations

Belmont Park

Alan Bedard, trainer – $500 fine for not having his horse “In my Opinion” properly shod for the running of race 2 at Belmont Park on 06/15/2023 causing a late scratch.

Pending ADMC Violations

Date: 05/24/2023

Licensee: Mario Dominguez

Penalty: Provisional suspension

Violation: Presence of a banned substance in a test

Explainer: Rule 3212, Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers. Cobalt.

Racetrack Safety Violations

Date: 06/17/2023

Licensee: Vladimir Cerin, trainer

Penalty: Seven-day suspension, $2,500 fine

Violation: Use of shockwave therapy too close to workout

Explainer:  Trainer Vladimir Cerin, who treated the horse Poppy's Halo with ESWT on 12/13/2022, at Santa Anita Park, which is within 30 days prior to a workout is suspended SEVEN (7) days and fined $2,500 for violation of HISA Rule 2272 (3) (Shockwave Therapy). The suspension shall be from June 23, 2023, through June 29, 2023. During the term of the suspension, all licenses and license privileges of Vladimir Cerin are suspended and pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rule #1528 (Jurisdiction of Stewards to Suspend or Fine) and HISA Rule 8200 (b)(2) through (12) (Schedule of Sanctions For Violations) Vladimir Cerin is denied access to all premises in this jurisdiction.

The post Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, June 13-19 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Sun Shines Brighter In The Sunshine State With Hot Peppers’ Success

Florida horse country is near synonymous with yearlings, training farms, and the promise a young horse brings to the legions of supporters behind it. With hotly contested claims as to who exactly holds the title of 'Horse Capital of the World', diehard Lexingtonians more than willing to defend their claims to the ends of time, some tend to get too caught up in splitting hairs. Regional markets can, and do play, a prominent role in building dynasties. They provide a foundation without which the industry could not stand; at least, not on sure footing.

One could start listing off famous Kentucky-breds and run out of daylight before the list ended; such is the privilege of the Bluegrass state. However, Florida lays claim to its own slices of history, and most notably, perhaps, would be their impact not just on pedigrees but on track annuals as well. Horses like 'The Good Doctor', Dr. Fager; the unfortunately infamous Foolish Pleasure; Triple Crown hero Affirmed; 14-length Belmont winner Conquistador Cielo; the feisty Gate Dancer; sire of sires Fappiano, and his son Unbridled, without whom we have no Empire Maker, no Unbridled's Song, no Tapit; fan-favorite, Derby hero Silver Charm; big, grey Skip Away; and Afleet Alex, brought to his knees in the Preakness only to regain his footing and win by daylight. These are but a select few examples, which serve as a reminder of the long-ranging impact on Kentucky breeding programs.

A modern version of events is playing out now in part through Hot Peppers (Khozan), who looks to add her name to that illustrious collection of 'influencers', if you will. She's a testament to the dedication of breeders like Brent and Crystal Fernung, who together own and operate Journeyman Stallions. The former experienced great early success in the stallion management sphere; Congrats and Wildcat Heir both beginning their careers under his discerning eye. And that gaze shifted to Todd Pletcher's newest buzz horse Khozan (by Distorted Humor) in 2015, whose limitless potential was cut short by a training injury, but who showed enough promise early to warrant a shot as a sire.

“I like brilliance,” Brent Fernung said, cut and dry, in a phone interview Monday. “I don't care how pretty a horse is, how much pedigree he has; if he doesn't prove that he has that extraordinary talent, you're at a big disadvantage. [Khozan] showed brilliance in his first start.”

While there was the concession of there being a possibility of hidden abilities no one could quite bring out, Fernung admits it's usually an exception to the rule, and not the rule. In Khozan's case, he fell well into the model Journeyman Stallions looked for in a sire prospect. Running a monster 102 Beyer on debut, a seven furlong dash where he started from the 14 hole, and then demolishing an allowance field by almost 13 lengths at a mile, he'd set himself up as the early favorite for the Florida Derby off two career starts.

Brilliance check marked, the focus shifted to his pedigree, of which there was plenty. As a half-brother to the fabulous Royal Delta (Empire Maker), millionaire Delta Prince (Street Cry {Ire}), and GISW Crown Queen (Smart Strike), and with no less than six sires hailing from his female line, there was every reason to believe the potential was there. Complete with a $1 million price tag as a 2-year-old in training purchase by Al Shaqab Racing, Khozan was hard not to like.

“If he went on, and stayed sound until after the Florida Derby, and he's a Grade I-winner, with that pedigree and everything, it would have been hard to find him at Journeyman Stud. It would've made him too expensive for us.”

Since then, he's more than proven the early faith was well-placed. Khozan has been Florida's leading sire since 2020 and to date has 24 black-type horses from 170 starters. Better news are that his best, and largest crops, are set to arrive this coming spring, while many in his earlier seasons are still competing successfully as 5-year-olds.

When it came to Hot Peppers, the mating was done in the hopes that her dam might produce a foal with a bit more to her than the prior offspring.

“I was a little hesitant to breed A.P. Indy-line mares back to Khozan because it's a little close. He's out of an A.P. Indy mare,” recounts Fernung. “I had [the dam] here, bred her to different stallions, and was unsatisfied with the first couple foals she gave me. Or I wouldn't say unsatisfied, but they just weren't Hot Peppers.”

The mare, Friends Pro (Friend Lake), went to his rising star, and in turn produced a 'cookie cutter image of a female Khozan' with the most appealing qualities immediately visible. While not a large filly, Hot Peppers had a beautiful balance to her as a yearling, and a big, nice walk to match. Friends Pro was correct with a good size, but she lacked the aesthetic appeal her Khozan filly received from her sire, and it showed when the pair went through their respective rings. Friends Pro sold for $1,000 to Rebecca Cawvey at OBSWIN in 2020, but Hot Peppers garnered a kinder reception. As Fernung put it: “Nick De Meric bought her off me, and he buys nice horses, there's no question.”

That nice $40,000 OBS October yearling in 2020 would drop the hammer eight months later at OBS June as a 2-year-old in training, and head the way of Ronald Spatz for $16,000. While not entirely sure, the suspected reason for the low price, one which bestows many horses the title of 'the one that got away' and one every consigner knows: the veterinary findings. Despite the low interest at the training sale, it was hard not to be enthusiastic for a good friend.

“[Ronnie Spatz] called me after he got her because he was excited about her, and then called me after she broke her maiden by a pole. He did a good job of preparing the filly for the races.”

It was a long way back to second in Hot Peppers' maiden-breaking win | Ryan Thompson

The ability to resist the temptation to jump Hot Peppers immediately into stakes company is what Fernung believes helped develop her into the racehorse we see sauntering across our screens. Those same talents which ultimately attracted the attention of Michael Dubb, and resulted in her private purchase after the 14 1/4-length tour de force, are now paying fruitful dividends for her new owners.

After her troubled seventh in the Stonehedge Farm South Sophomore Fillies S., Hot Peppers moved to the barn of Rudy Rodriguez in New York and two months later looked like herself again, blitzing Belmont's Jersey Girl by almost seven lengths in a hand ride. She kicked on to a game score in the GIII Victory Ride in July and with that effort, stamped her ticket for the Spa, where the big girls came to strut their stuff.

And there she was, the Florida filly with a heart as big as her talent, at the head of the field in the GI Test S. at America's summer playground. She led until the final yards, where Chi Town Lady came from dead last to play spoiler, but the impression was made. The blue-collar filly from the Sunshine state had run an incredible race on track conditions she'd never experienced before, against a favorite on a four race win streak, and muscling her way through contact in the stretch.

And perhaps, she even had to fight a bit of that Saratoga curse, by proximity.

Hot Peppers' efforts will likely have consequences beyond her own sphere of influence. The doors will also open wider for Khozan and Journeyman Stud, who now have concrete proof that their stallion can throw runners on par with the best. Brilliance begets brilliance, and developing sires with those qualities is as entrenched in Ocala as it is in Lexington. If you're in need of a stallion, but don't have a bottomless budget, ask Florida for some pointers. They know a little something about breeding the giant, and the giant slayer.

The post Sun Shines Brighter In The Sunshine State With Hot Peppers’ Success appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Gulfstream’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed At $300,000 Sunday

Monarch Stables Inc.'s Last Leaf, who captured the Hollywood Beach Stakes of turf in her most recent start, will make her debut over Gulfstream's Tapeta racing surface in Sunday's featured Race 7 optional claiming allowance at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The 5 ½-furlong sprint for 2-year-old fillies will be highlighted in the Rainbow 6 sequence, which will span Races 4-9. The jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $300,000 Sunday at Gulfstream Park, where the popular multi-race wager went unsolved Saturday for the 11th racing day following a $461,035.47 jackpot payoff Oct. 9.

Last Leaf has an experience edge over her five rivals, having won three of six starts while demonstrating the versatility to win on both dirt and turf. The daughter of Not This Time, who broke her maiden on a fast main track in her second career start, will seek her third straight victory Sunday. She ran away with a six-furlong optional claiming allowance by 10 ¾ lengths over a sealed sloppy track Sept. 4 before scoring a narrow victory in the five-furlong Hollywood Beach on turf three weeks later.

“I asked for this race,” trainer Ronald Spatz said. “It will be fun to find out if she can win on four different surfaces. She's won on dirt, a sloppy track, and turf.”

Miguel Vasquez has the return mount.

“She's a nice little filly. She's got little feet; she's blocky; and she runs hard,” Spatz said. “She's a good little sprinter.”

Trainer Michael Stidham, who will maintain a division at Gulfstream for the first time during the Championship Meet, will be represented by Godolphin's Kit Keller, who is coming off a debut victory in a five-furlong maiden special weight race on turf at Laurel Sept. 9.

Edgard Zayas has the call on the homebred daughter of Ghostzapper.

The post Gulfstream’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed At $300,000 Sunday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Prayer For Relief Gets First Winner At Stud At Gulfstream Park

Savatiano's strong closing kick down the stretch at Gulfstream Park made him the first winner at stud for multiple Grade 2 winner and Indiana sire Prayer for Relief, BloodHorse reports.

Under jockey Miguel Vasquez, Savatiano stayed in touch with the leaders, then swung five-wide to stage a steady drive and finish a length on top. The gelding finished the five-furlong maiden claiming race 1:00.36 over a fast main track for owner David Romanik and owner/trainer Ronald Spatz.

Savatiano was bred in Florida by SCF, Inc., out of the winning Imperialism mare Retsina.

Prayer for Relief, a 12-year-old son of Jump Start, stands at R Star Stallions in Anderson, Ind., for an advertised fee of $3,000. He began his stud career at Pleasant Acres Stallions in Florida before moving to Indiana prior to the 2018 breeding season.

Over eight seasons of racing, Prayer for Relief won eight of 46 starts for earnings of $2,277,948. His race record is highlighted by victories in the Grade 2 West Virginia Derby and Super Derby, as well as the G3 Iowa Derby and Prairie Meadows Cornhusker Handicap.

Prayer for Relief is out of the multiple stakes-winning Mr. Sparkles mare Sparlkin Lil, making him a half-brother to stakes winner Twin Sparks. His extended family includes Grade 1 winner Another Reef and Grade 2 winner Miss Sunset.

Read more at BloodHorse.

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