The most severe case resolution published this week on the public disclosures section of the website for the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU), the enforcement arm of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA), is a 4.5-year suspension and $37,500 fine for trainer Lorenzo Ruiz over a trio of positive tests for banned substance diisopropylamine.
The positives occurred at Los Alamitos in late June and early July. Each of the three horses which tested positive for the vasodilator has also been suspended from action for 60 days (Kant Beat The Rock, American Cat, and Facts Matter).
Other case resolutions this week included three trainers serving seven-day periods of ineligibility over acepromazine positives (Peter Miller, Carla Gaines, and A. Ferris Allen, III); a $3,000 fine over two violations of the intra-articular injection rule (Boyd Caster); and three Class C medication violations for vet's list workouts.
As a reminder: HIWU's regulations for vet's list workouts include stricter medication restrictions than those for horses completing routine timed workouts. Horses on the veterinarian's list are required to complete a recorded work before a veterinarian and undergo post-race drug testing to be taken off the list. Horses completing routine, non-vet's list workouts are prohibited from having analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, and local anesthetics in their system, but other therapeutic medications are permitted.
Seven new pending violations for controlled substances have been added to the HIWU website this week as well, including two for Class B substances (which may carry a penalty of a seven-day suspension and $1,000 fine).
Last week's edition of the HIWU Weekly Roundup is available here, and all public disclosures can be found on the HIWU website.
New Case Resolutions
The following cases have recently been resolved by HIWU, either by early admission and acceptance of consequences (EAAC) or by final decision (FINAL).
- Trainer Lorenzo Ruiz began serving a 4.5 year period of ineligibility and was fined $37,500 over three runners which tested positive for the vasodilator diisopropylamine (banned substance). He was suspended 18 months and fined $12,500 per instance; each horse was disqualified from their respective race with purse money ordered returned. (EAAC)
- Kant Beat The Rock tested positive after finishing second in a starter allowance race at Los Alamitos on July 4. The horse will be suspended from action for 60 days beginning Aug. 3.
- American Cat tested positive after winning a $16,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on June 25. The 4-year-old gelding will be suspended from action for 60 days beginning July 13.
- Facts Matter tested positive after winning a starter allowance race at Los Alamitos on June 23. The 8-year-old gelding will be suspended from action for 60 days beginning July 24.
- Trainer Peter Miller began serving a seven-day period of ineligibility on Sept. 16 over three runners testing positive for acepromazine (Class B). Miller was also fined $1,000 and assessed 2 Penalty Points; each horse was disqualified from its respective race with purse money ordered returned (EAAC).
- Forgiving Spirit finished second in an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita on June 11. A claim on the horse was voided.
- Anmer Hall won a claiming race at Santa Anita on June 4; the horse was claimed by Steve Knapp. The the claimant has the option to void under HISA rules.
- Giver Not A Taker finished fourth in an allowance optional claiming race on June 4 at Santa Anita.
- Trainer Carla Gaines began serving a seven-day period of ineligibility on Sept. 16 over Summer Lake testing positive for acepromazine (Class B) after a vet's list workout at Santa Anita on July 14. Gaines was also fined $1,000 and assessed 2 Penalty Points. (EAAC)
- Trainer A. Ferris Allen, III began serving a seven-day period of ineligibility on Sept. 16 over Musical Cat testing positive for acepromazine (Class B) after winning an allowance race at Penn National on June 16. The 5-year-old mare has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned; Allen was also fined $1,000 and assessed 2 Penalty Points. (EAAC)
- Trainer Boyd Caster has been fined a total of $3,000 and assessed 3 Penalty Points over a pair of violations of the intra-articular injection rule. Trainees Inside Job and Dixieland Quality each worked at Remington Park at Aug. 5, within seven days of an injection. (EAAC)
- Trainer Brittany Russell has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Late Night Larry testing positive for dantrolene (Class C) after a vet's list workout at Delaware Park on June 25. (EAAC)
- Trainer Cesar De Alba has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Scary Fast Smile testing positive for dexamethasone (Class C) after finishing seventh in a $8,000 claiming race at Del Mar on Aug. 6. The 6-year-old gelding has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. Scary Fast Smile was claimed out of the race by trainer Mark Glatt; the claimant has the option to void under HISA rules. (EAAC)
- Trainer Antonio Arriaga has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Jet Set Juliet testing positive for phenylbutazone (Class C) after a vet's list workout at Saratoga on Aug. 6. (FINAL)
- Trainer Devarus Douglass has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Pickle Feet testing positive for phenylbutazone (Class C) after a vet's list workout at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Aug. 4. (EAAC)
- Trainer David Mohan was fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Shoot Themessenger testing positive for methocarbamol (Class C) after a vet's list workout at Laurel Park on Aug. 3. (FINAL)
- Trainer Jorge Maravilla has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Brookys Tapit testing positive for phenylbutazone (Class C) after finishing fifth in a $4,000 claiming race at Santa Rosa on Aug. 3. The 4-year-old gelding has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. Brookys Tapit was claimed out of the race by trainer/owner Jacqui Navarre; the claimant has the option to void under HISA rules. (EAAC)
Pending Violations – Controlled Substances
The following cases include pending violations for controlled substances, those that are permitted for therapeutic purposes, but not on race days or during vet's list workouts (new cases in italics at top of list).
- Owner Totaram Rampersaud – Jumpster tested positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Saratoga on Aug. 20. (Class C)
- Trainer Joe Toye – Glimpse of Gold tested positive for dexamethasone after winning a maiden claiming race at Emerald Downs on Aug. 12. (Class C)
- Trainer Faustino Patino Lopez – Night to Remember tested positive for dexamethasone after finishing third and last in a maiden claiming race at Emerald Downs on Aug. 12. (Class C)
- Trainer Jeffrey Englehart –
- Wait A Minute tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on July 18. (Class B)
- Mi Tres Por Ciento tested positive for methocarbamol after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on July 18. (Class C)
- Graywing tested positive for phenylbutazone after finishing fourth in an allowance race at Finger Lakes on July 17. (Class C)
- Trainer Jason DaCosta – Poker Partner tested positive for gabapentin after winning a maiden special weight race at Parx on July 18. (Class B)
- Trainer Norm Casse – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Mo Fight (ruling date Aug. 17).
- Trainer Jennifer Nunnally – Seraphimzale tested positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Emerald Downs on Aug. 13. (Class C)
- Trainer Robert Klesaris – Battalion tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning a starter allowance at Laurel Park on Aug. 12. (Class C)
- Trainer Carlos Lopez – Alkalinization or use of an alkalinizing agent (TCO2) on two trainees on Aug. 10: I Said Hey ran fourth as the mutual favorite in a $10,000 claiming race at Belterra Park, and Brodytheoxman ran fourth as the mutual favorite in a $5,000 claiming race at Belterra Park.
- Trainer Jaime Cruz – Animal Princess tested positive for detomidine (large animal sedative) after finishing third in a $16,000 claiming race at Delaware Park on Aug. 4. (Class B)
- Trainer James Toner – Commandeer tested positive for phenylbutazone after winning an allowance at Colonial Downs on Aug. 3. (Class C)
- Trainer Carla Gaines – Summer Lake tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Santa Anita on July 14. (Class B)
- Trainer Domenick Schettino – Fast Study tested positive for levamisole after finishing second in a maiden claiming race at Belmont Park on July 1. (Class B)
- Trainer Chris Hartman – Necker Island tested positive for acepromazine after winning the Mighty Beau Stakes at Ellis Park on June 18. (Class B)
- Trainer Miguel Alamo – Late Date tested positive for dexamethasone after finishing fifth in an allowance race at Thistledown on Aug. 1. (Class C)
- Trainer Carlos Sedillo – violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout with Smooth Waters (ruling date July 30).
- Trainer Don Roberson – Secret Life Style tested positive for flunixin (banamine) after finishing seventh and last in a $2,500 claiming race at Emerald Downs on July 28. (Class C)
- Trainer Jacqueline Falk – Gold Templar tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing second in a maiden special weight race at Finger Lakes on June 28. (Class C)
- Trainer Cassondra Weaver – Coyote Runner tested positive for acepromazine after a workout at Presque Isle Downs on July 20. (Class B)
- Trainer Candice Cryderman – Dontforgethesugar tested positive for methocarbamol after finishing third in a claiming race at Emerald Downs on July 7. (Class C)
- Trainer Chad Brown – Forced Ranking tested positive for omeprazole after a work at Monmouth Park on July 7. (Class C)
- Trainer William Martin – Alkalinization or use of an alkalinizing agent (TCO2) on Wild Irish prior to his win in a claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on July 3.
- Trainer Jose Camejo – Fire King tested positive for promazine sulfoxide and methocarbamol after a work at Monmouth Park on June 11. (Class B, C)
- Trainer Dennis VanMeter – Templement tested positive for phenylbutazone in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 7, 2023 (finished sixth after clipping heels at the start). VanMeter is also provisionally suspended as Templement returned a positive test for the banned substance isoxsuprene in the same race. (Class C, banned)
Pending Violations – Provisional Suspensions For Banned Substances
The following cases include pending violations for banned substances, those that are not permitted in horses. New cases are listed in italics at the top of the list, and active suspensions have the trainer's name listed in bold.
Postponed suspensions, those for substances yet to be confirmed by split sample, are listed with an asterisk (*).
- *Trainer R. McLane Hendricks – Princess Javoncia tested positive for cocaine after winning an allowance race at Penn National on Aug. 16.
- Trainer John Pimental
- Possession of Levothyroxine (violation date July 28)
- Golovkin tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing last (sixth) in a claiming race at Monmouth Park on May 29. A claim on the horse was voided from this race.
- Trainer Michael Pappada – Truckin Tommy tested positive for the opioid tapentadol after finishing sixth in a maiden claiming race at Presque Isle Downs on Aug. 8. The horse was vanned off after the race.
- *Trainer Michael Lauer – Mowins tested positive for metformin after finishing third in an allowance race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Aug. 5.
- Trainer Nevada Litfin has been provisionally suspended for “use or attempted use of a controlled medication method and/or a controlled medication substance during the race period of the horse Dominus Tecum. The ruling was first announced on the Minnesota Racing Commission's website, where it was listed as being due to “actions detrimental to racing.”
- *Trainer Angel J. Castillo Sanchez – Pylon tested positive for metformin after winning a $5,000 claiming race at Delaware Park on Aug. 3.
- Trainer Hector Palma – Baladi tested positive for methamphetamine after finishing fourth in a claiming race at Del Mar on July 30.
- Trainer Carlos Milian – Junglherly Love tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic). Horse has been running at Parx; ruling date of July 29 is reported to coincide with an out-of-competition test, per HIWU representatives.
- Trainer Randy Preston – Fly Home tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a maiden claiming race at Belterra Park on July 20.
- *Trainer Jim Lewis – Hughie's Holiday tested positive for clenbuterol after winning a claiming race at Ruidoso Downs on July 8.
- Trainer Ramon Rechy – Night Livin tested positive for methamphetamine after winning a claiming race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on July 7.
- Trainer Milton Pineda – seven runners have now tested positive for the vasodilator diisopropylamine
- Wegonahaveagoodtime won a $12,500 claiming race at Los Alamitos on July 4, after which he tested positive.
- Keep Your Coil won a $25,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on July 2, after which she tested positive.
- Catbernay won a $10,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on July 1, after which he tested positive.
- Chollima won an $8,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on June 23, after which she tested positive, and has since finished second in a $12,500 claiming race
- Big Splash won a $16,000 waiver claiming event at Santa Anita on June 10, after which he tested positive. Big Splash has since finished third in an allowance optional claiming race at Los Alamitos on June 24.
- Flatterwithjewels finished second in a $12,500 claiming race at Santa Anita on June 9 and was claimed by Flurry Racing Stables and trainer Phil D'Amato. The claim will be voided under HISA rules.
- Bella Renella won a $20,000 claiming race at Santa Anita on June 2, after which she tested positive. The 6-year-old mare has since won a starter optional claiming race at Santa Anita on June 18.
- Trainer Natalia Lynch – possession of Levothyroxine, and a gelding in her care tested positive for altrenogest.
- Motion to Strike tested positive for altrenogest after the gelding finished fourth in a claiming race at Monmouth Park on June 24. He was claimed from that race by owner/trainer Silvino Ramirez, and has since finished third in a claiming race at Monmouth on July 14. Under HISA rules, the claim will be voided.
- Trainer Bruno Tessore – Tenebris, a gelding, tested positive for altrenogest on July 18 (no races or workouts listed on that date by Equibase).
- Trainer David Reid – Maligator tested positive for venlafaxine (an anti-depressant and nerve pain medication) after winning a claiming race at Hawthorne on June 25. The 8-year-old gelding has since finished second in a claiming race at Hawthorne on July 16.
- Trainer Javier Morzan – Lady Liv tested positive for metformin (a commonly used prescription drug that treats diabetes) after finishing third in a starter optional claiming race at Delaware Park on June 24.
- Trainer Mary Pirone – Benny The Jet tested positive for altrenogest after the gelding finished fifth in a claiming race at Emerald Downs on June 24. He was claimed from that race and moved to the barn of trainer Jorge Rosales, and has since won a claiming race at Emerald on July 14. Under HISA rules, the claim will be voided.
- Trainer Joseph Taylor – two runners have tested positive for both methylphenidate and clenbuterol
- Classy American finished second in a starter allowance at Parx on June 20
- Cajun Cousin finished second in a claiming race at Parx on June 18. The 4-year-old filly has since won a claiming race at Parx on July 12, prior to the positive being called. Cajun Cousin was claimed out of that race by trainer Michael V. Pino for Smart Angle LLP; the claim will be voided under HISA rules.
- Trainer Donald H. Buckner – In the Midst tested positive for clenbuterol after finishing fifth in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 15.
- Trainer Guadalupe Munoz Elizondo – Quinton's Charmer tested positive for metformin, a medication commonly prescribed in humans for type 2 diabetes, on June 11, 2023 (the New Mexico Racing Commission's Izzy Trejo confirmed that the positive test was incurred after a work before the state veterinarian in an attempt to remove Quinton's Charmer from the vet's list).
- Munoz Elizondo is also a multiple graded stakes-winning Quarter Horse trainer. Since HISA/HIWU have no jurisdiction over Quarter Horse racing, Munoz Elizondo will still be able to train and race Quarter Horses in New Mexico. Trejo said that HISA gave guidance last year that jockeys suspended for whip violations on a Thoroughbred could ride in Quarter Horse races, so the NMRC has applied the same logic to a trainer with a HIWU suspension. Thus, Munoz Elizondo is permitted to participate in Quarter Horse races. Trejo added that the commission is pushing for a state rule that will apply reciprocity at the NMRC level for HISA suspensions, but that isn't in place yet.
- Trainer Reed Saldana – Ice Queen tested positive for the vasodilator diisopropylamine after finishing third in a starter allowance at Santa Anita on June 16
- Dr. Luis Jorge Perez, DVM – possession of levothyroxine (violation date June 9)
- Trainer Dennis VanMeter – Templement tested positive for isoxsuprine after finishing sixth in an allowance race at Thistledown on June 7, 2023 (see above, horse also returned positive test for controlled substance phenylbutazone)
- Trainer Jonathan Wong – Heaven and Earth tested positive for metformin after winning a maiden race at Horseshoe Indianapolis on June 1.
Last week's edition of the HIWU Weekly Roundup is available here, and all public disclosures can be found on the HIWU website.
The post HIWU Weekly Update: Trainer Suspended 4.5 Years, Fined $37,500 For Three Banned Substance Positives appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
