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 two-year suspension for trainer Mario Dominguez over a positive test for banned substance cobalt.
An arbitral body issued the final decision; Dominguez has been fined $5,000 and ordered to pay $10,000 in arbitration costs. The horse, Petulant Delight, is disqualified from his win in a claiming race at Parx on May 24, and is ineligible to race for six months from that date.
Seven positive tests for banned substances appear to have been confirmed via split sample testing; the trainers' suspensions had previously been listed as postponed, but have been updated to active suspension status. Those trainers are: Carlos Milian, Bruno Tessore, David Reid, Javier Morzan, Mary Pirone, Donald Buckner, and Reed Saldana.
Thirteen new pending violations for controlled substances have been added to the HIWU website this week as well, including four for Class B substances (which may carry a penalty of a seven-day suspension and $1,000 fine). Among those four are three for the sedative acepromazine: trainer Chris Hartman, Carla Gaines, and Jeffrey Englehart. The fourth Class B penalty was for levamisole, found in a trainee of Domenick Schettino.
Trainer Norm Casse has been listed with a violation of the intra-articular injection rule within seven days of a timed workout, and trainer Carlos Lopez was found to have two trainees at Belterra Park test positive for “alkalinization or use of an alkalinizing agent (TCO2).”
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.
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 Mario A. Dominguez has been issued a two-year period of ineligibility, beginning on June 15, 2023, due to his trainee Petulant Delight testing positive for cobalt after winning a claiming race at Parx Racing on May 24. Dominguez has also been issued a fine of $5,000, as well as a payment of $10,000 in arbitration costs. Petulant Delight has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned; the 8-year-old gelding is also subject to a six-month period of ineligibility beginning May 24, 2023. (FINAL decision by arbitral body)
- Trainer Jorge Maravilla will serve a seven-day period of ineligibility beginning Sept. 12, 2023, over Stretch Run testing positive for gabapentin after winning a starter optional claiming race at Santa Rosa on Aug. 4. The 7-year-old gelding has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned; Maravilla has also been fined $1,000 and imposed 2 Penalty Points. (EAAC)
- Trainer Christophe Clement has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over a positive test for dantrolene after a vet's list workout with trainee My Royal Vow. (EAAC)
- Trainer Jackie Riddle has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Drinkroundthetruth testing positive for methocarbamol after finishing second in a maiden special weight at Ruidoso Downs on July 9. The 3-year-old ridgling has been disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (EAAC)
- Trainer Andy Mathis has been fined $500 and assessed 1.5 Penalty Points over Like No Other testing positive for phenylbutazone after finishing eighth as the mutual favorite in a $16,000 claiming race at Del Mar on July 29. The 3-year-old filly was disqualified with purse money ordered returned. (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).
- 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 Cesar De Alba – Scary Fast Smile tested positive for dexamethasone after finishing seventh in a $8,000 claiming race at Del Mar on Aug. 6. The horse was claimed out of the race; that claim will be voided under HISA rules. (Class C)
- Trainer Devarus Douglass – Pickle Feet tested positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Aug. 4. (Class C)
- 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 Jeffrey Englehart – Wait A Minute tested positive for acepromazine after a vet's list workout at Finger Lakes on July 18. (Class B)
- 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 Brittany Russell – Late Night Larry tested positive for dantrolene after a vet's list workout at Delaware Park on June 25. (Class C)
- Trainer Chris Hartman – Necker Island tested positive for acepromazine after winning the Mighty Beau Stakes at Ellis Park on June 18. (Class B)
- Trainer Antonio Arriaga – Jet Set Juliet tested positive for phenylbutazone after a vet's list workout at Saratoga on Aug. 6. (Class C)
- Trainer David Mohan – Shoot Themessenger tested positive for methocarbamol after a vet's list workout at Laurel Park on Aug. 3. (Class C)
- 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 A. Ferris Allen, III – Musical Cat tested positive for acepromazine after winning an allowance race at Penn National on June 16. (ruling date listed as June 18). (Class B)
- 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 Peter Miller – three runners tested positive for acepromazine (Class B)
- 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 claim will be voided under HISA rules.
- Giver Not A Taker finished fourth in an allowance optional claiming race on June 4 at Santa Anita. The horse has since finished third in an allowance optional race at Los Al and second in the Real Good Deal Stakes at Del Mar.
- 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 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 John Pimental – 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 Lorenzo Ruiz – three runners have tested positive for the vasodilator diisopropylamine
- Kant Beat The Rock tested positive after finishing second in a starter allowance race at Los Alamitos on July 4.
- American Cat tested positive after winning a $16,000 claiming race at Los Alamitos on June 25. The 4-year-old gelding has since finished third in an allowance optional claimer at Los Al on July 9.
- Facts Matter tested positive after winning a starter allowance race at Los Alamitos on June 23. The 8-year-old gelding has since finished fifth in a claiming race at Los Al on July 8.
- Ruiz is a multiple stakes-winning Quarter Horse trainer based at Los Al, though he has not started any Quarter Horses since 2022. Since HISA/HIWU have no jurisdiction over Quarter Horse racing, whether or not Ruiz would be able to race Quarter Horses will be up to the state racing commission and/or local racetrack. Ruiz has not started any horses, Thoroughbred or Quarter Horse, since July 9.
- 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.
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