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Dave Litfin, Former Handicapper for the Form, Dies at 64

Dave Litfin, the widely respected former handicapper for the Daily Racing Form, died Thursday night in Saratoga Springs after a long battle with cancer. He was 64.

The news was announced by his wife of 39 years, Robin, on her Facebook page.

Litfin was a call-taker with the Form and joined the New York Racing Association's publicity staff as the press box manager in 1984. He went to work for the DRF in 1990 where he wrote the “Handicapper's Corner” column. He was the author of two books, “Dave Litfin's Expert Handicapping” and “Real-Life Handicapping” and contributed chapters to “Champions” and both volumes of “Bet With the Best.” He most recently worked for Equibase and wrote handicapping columns for the Blood-Horse.

His friend John Scheinman wrote on Facebook, “I and my racing friends and racing as a whole have lost the nicest of guys, David Litfin. As the New York handicapper for years at the Daily Racing Form, you could argue that for a long time he was the most important public handicapper in the country–maybe just behind Beyer–because he was on the top beat for the top publication. You would be crazy to bet New York without seeing who he liked. I always considered Dave's press box presence as one of diligent work but also bemusement. He saw the humor in the whole insane parade of horse racing, it's characters, including up in that room and yet thankfully never seemed to be a lightning rod for any friction. He was gentle, intelligent, caring, inquisitive and fun.”

Litfin is survived by his wife; two daughters, Addy and Marne; a son, Sam, and a daughter-in-law, Maggie. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Liftin's name to Old Friends, which has equine retirement facilities in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Lexington, Ky.

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Harness Trainer Guido Gets 20 Months in Prison for Doping

Thomas Guido, III, a 57-year-old former Standardbred trainer based in the Northeast, became the third defendant in related criminal racehorse doping cases this week to be sentenced to prison.

On Thursday, a federal judge put Guido behind bars for 20 months as part of an agreement with prosecutors in which Guido pleaded guilty to one felony count of substantive drug misbranding and adulteration with intent to defraud and mislead in exchange for three conspiracy charges against him being dropped.

Guido was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine. Prior to his Nov. 17 sentencing, he already paid a $61,800 forfeiture that had been a condition of his plea bargain.

At two separate sentencings on Nov. 15, the same judge in in United States District Court (Southern District of New York) sent the former Standardbred trainer Rene Allard to prison for 27 months while the former racetrack veterinarian Louis Grasso got 50 months for his role in the same doping ring.

Had the case gone to trial, prosecutors had been prepared to prove how Guido and Grasso worked together to administer performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to Standardbreds.

“Critically, Guido sought to obtain some of the most potent PEDs in the industry-blood builders-to administer to racehorses for the purpose of corruptly improving their race performance,” prosecutors wrote in a pre-sentencing submission.

Among the evidence that the feds intended to present if the case had gone to rial was a 2019 intercepted phone call in which the trainer and veterinarian discussed the death of a horse named Reiki, presumably after the administration of a blood-clotting agent.

“Guido appreciated the dangers of illegally administering drugs to racehorses for no legitimate medical purpose,” the prosecution's filing continued. “One of Guido's racehorses unexpectedly died with no apparent cause, leading co-defendant Louis Grasso to speculate that the horse had died after receiving a mis-administered dose of N-butyl alcohol. Guido likewise appreciated that his conduct was prohibited: over the course of his career, Guido had received multiple prior positive drug tests and fines or suspensions as punishment.”

Prosecutors had sought a 30-month prison sentence. Guido's attorney had argued for a far more lenient punishment of 12 months of home confinement. Guido's lawyer also disputed that his client had a direct role in Reiki's death.

“The government suggests that Mr. Guido was directly responsible for the death of a horse under his care,” Guido's attorney wrote. “The basis of this allegation is a conversation between Dr. Grasso and Mr. Guido recorded on October 2, 2019, in which they discuss the death of a horse owned by a friend of Mr. Guido.

“Dr. Grasso, who did not examine the horse, opines that the horse died of an improperly administered N-Butyl injection. [Reiki] died the day before [after competing in] a race at Pocono Downs.”

“Mr. Guido was not present at that race, he did not transport that horse to the track, and it's not clear whether Reiki was stabled at [his farm]. Mr. Guido did not mis-deliver an injection of N-Butyl to Reiki on October 1, 2019…. The entire conversation is speculative [and] we don't know why the horse died,” the defense filing continued.

But yet, even Guido's own attorney conceded in the same paragraph that, “What is true, however, is that similar to his facilitating others in obtaining Epogen prescriptions, Mr. Guido may have supplied the N-Butyl that Dr. Grasso had prescribed for his barn. It is conduct that he deeply regrets.”

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Late Fireworks for Unraced $1-Million Into Mischief Colt at Keeneland

An unraced 2-year-old colt by record-setting sire Into Mischief brought $1 million from Mick Wallace, agent, on behalf of Gandharvi Racing, to dissolve a partnership very late in the day to top Keeneland's single-session November Horses of Racing Age Sale Thursday.

Produced by Gaudete (Distorted Humor)–an unraced half-sister to leading young sire Munnings (Speightstown)–Hip 5352 was consigned by Highgate Sales, Agent XXXV.

The topper previously brought $350,000 from China Horse Club/Gandharvi Racing at last year's Keeneland September Sale. His yearling half-brother by Violence brought $300,000 from Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables at Keeneland September.

Either alone or in partnership, Gandharvi Racing purchased 18 yearlings earlier this year at Keeneland September for $7.605 million ($422,500).

China Horse Club brought home the next two toppers, also consigned by Highgate Sales to dissolve that same partnership, going to $560,000 for an unraced 2-year-old filly by Practical Joke–Competition, by Dixie Union (Hip 5344) and $450,000 for an unraced 2-year-old colt by Street Sense–Sweeter Than Ever, by Exchange Rate (Hip 5346).

The Practical Joke filly, from the family of Grade I winners Sailor's Valentine and Coup de Fusil, previously brought $420,000 from China Horse Club/Gandharvi at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga. The Street Sense colt, from the family of Grade III winner Bibury Court, brought $350,000 from China Horse Club/Gandharvi at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga.

CHC Inc. purchased four horses for $1.385 million to lead all buyers Thursday.

“We got approached by some parties that were dissolving a partnership,” Highgate Sales's Jacob West said. “We just offered a service of putting them through the ring for them. It all came together in the last minute. They handled everything at the barn–signage, marketing–it was a total team effort from everybody. We did not see this coming. China Horse Club was one of our supporters early. They were responsible for our first $1-million horse. Now they are responsible for our second.”

Highgate Sales led all consignors for the auction, selling 15 head for $3.383 million, good for an average of $225,533.

West continued, “I think this comes from us pounding the drum on how we are no-nonsense, straightforward, straight-shooting people and offer this service to our clients to represent them the best we can at the sales. The horses came to us in great shape. They had been in kind of a holding pattern for a little bit and ready to go on and do their next thing. It is a unique situation when you can tell people it's to dissolve a partnership. There was a horse there for everybody that was shopping. There was a horse that brought $1 million and a horse that brought $6,000.”

This year, Keeneland created the stand-alone auction for horses of racing age, which in previous years was incorporated as part of the November Breeding Stock Sale. A total of 161 horses sold during the session for $11,029,500, for an average of $68,506 and a median of $35,000.

“It was a very healthy day of trade,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “There was plenty of action in the barns, in the back rings and a lot of action in the Repository. We know this is a really good time of year for people who are trying to reorganize their barn to transition horses in or out of their programs. They are looking for horses to run at Oaklawn or Fair Grounds or other winter tracks, and here they are able to do their homework and be well educated on the horses that are in front of them. It's very welcome for both buyers and sellers.”

“This segment is its own sale now, and we think it's off to a really good start,” Keeneland Director of Sales Operations Cormac Breathnach said. “It's contiguous with the Breeding Stock Sale, but it's a different market with a later entry deadline and more flexibility with supplements. There's now a concentration of racehorses before trainers rather than before when the racehorses were spread out over days with breeding stock. We did a little over $6 million in gross last year when we put the racehorses at the end of the Breeding Stock Sale, and this year we did just over $11 million. That's significant. We've set a baseline for what the November Horses of Racing Age Sale can be, and we'll try to grow it from here.”

Other highlights during the sale included:

• Hip 5206: Sifting Sands (GB) (c, 4, Dubawi {Ire}–Yummy Mummy {GB}, by Montjeu {Ire}). *Winner of the 2021 Better Talk Now S. and close second in the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Lure S., both at Saratoga. **1/2 brother to MG1SW Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}). ***Consigned by ELiTE, agent; $200,000 purchase by RRR Racing. ****”I bought him for RRR Racing and he is going to Dubai,” Corbin Blumberg said. “He's obviously a pretty high-class horse. He's rated at 106 over there, so he can go right into the [Dubai World Cup] Carnival. They love the sire Dubawi over there and are pretty familiar with him.”

• Hip 5297: Ethereal Road (c, 3, Quality Road–Sustained, by War Front). *Winner of the 2022 Sir Barton S. and runner-up in the GII Rebel S. **1/2 brother to GSW Turned Aside (American Pharoah). ***Consigned by Paramount Sales, Agent LXX; $200,000 purchase by Steven W. Young, agent. ****”He's a horse I've watched all year,” Young said. “He's a super nice horse I bought for really good people. I think the horse will be going to Oaklawn Park. He broke his maiden there and he should have won the Rebel there. We're excited for them. I think this sale has a ceiling to it. I figured that is about what he would bring.”

Hip 5305: Lovemesomeme (f, 4, Paynter–Eagle Putt, by Pioneering). *Third behind GISW Bell's the One (Majesticperfection) with a career-high 85 Beyer Speed Figure in Churchill's Lady Tak S. **Full-sister to GSP Scarto. ***Consigned by Mill Ridge Sales, agent; $350,000 purchase by L & L Racing. ****”She's for a client to go to Brad Cox,” Clay Scherer said. “She ran very consistent numbers at Churchill Downs and she will fit in very well at Oaklawn Park. She has been fast and consistent and Tommy Drury has done a great job with her. It's nice to go into a big-time winter meet at Hot Springs with a nice, fresh horse. The market has been very strong for good racehorses and it continued into today.”

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Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings: Nov. 8-14

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.

With the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) having gone into effect on July 1, the TDN will also post a roundup of the relevant HISA-related rulings from the same week.

California
Track: Del Mar
Date: 11/10/2022
Licensee: Steve Knapp, trainer
Penalty: Return of horse and claim amount
Violation: Void claim
Explainer: In the matter of the claim submitted for the horse Square Deal. Having received first notice of a Prohibited Substance (methocarbamol) in the post-race test sample, pursuant to Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Rule 2262 (c)(5) (Void Claim), the claim submitted for the Horse Square Deal, in the second race on September 10, 2022, at Del Mar Race Track is hereby deemed void.

The horse, Square Deal trained by Steve Knapp, shall be returned to owners Steve Knapp and Leslie Blake, also, Steve Knapp and Leslie Blake shall return the amount of the claim of $20,000 to the paymaster at Del Mar Race Track by November 20, 2022. Furthermore, owners Steve Knapp and Leslie Blake and trainer Robert Diodoro have reached an agreement for the care and training of the horse during the time the horse was in the claimant's barn.

Track: Del Mar
Date: 11/12/2022
Licensee: Kyle Frey, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Jockey Kyle Frey, who rode Durante in the fifth race at Del Mar Race Track on Friday, November 11, 2022, is suspended for 3 racing days (November 19, 20 and 24, 2022) for failure to maintain a straight course in the stretch and causing interference. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – Careless Riding).

Track: Del Mar
Date: 11/12/2022
Licensee: Ryan Curatolo, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Jockey Ryan Curatolo, who rode Spycatcher in the seventh race at Del Mar Race Track on Friday, November 11, 2022, is suspended for 3 racing days (November 19, 20 and 24, 2022) for failure to maintain a straight course in the stretch and causing interference. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – Careless Riding).

Track: Del Mar
Date: 11/13/2022
Licensee: Emily Ellingwood, jockey
Penalty: One-day suspension
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Having violated the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2280 (c)(5) & (6) (Use of Riding Crop) and pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and Penalties – Class 3), Jockey Emily Ellingwood, who rode Beskar in the sixth race at Del Mar Race Track on November 12, 2022, is suspended for (1) day November 20, 2022, and fined $250.00 for over use of the riding crop after reaching a maximum placing.

Furthermore, Jockey Emily Ellingwood is assigned three (3) violation points that will be expunged on May 13, 2023, six (6) months from the date of final adjudication pursuant to Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority Rule #2282 (Riding Crop Violations and penalties. Jockey Emily Ellingwood has accrued a total of three (3) points.

New York
Track: Aqueduct
Date: 11/08/2022
Licensee: Domenick Schettino, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Possession of an improperly prescribed medication.
Explainer: Trainer Dominick Schettino is hereby fined the sum of $1,000 for having possession of an improperly prescribed medication in his barn.

Track: Aqueduct
Date: 11/09/2022
Licensee: Juan Vazquez, trainer
Penalty: Fourteen-day suspension, $2,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Having received a report from the NYS Gaming Commission Equine Drug Testing Laboratory of the finding of Albuterol in the post-race samples taken from horse “Esor” #3 which raced in the 8th race and finished 1st at Aqueduct Race Track on December 30th 2021. Trainer of record Mr. Juan Vazquez having been notified of the findings, requested and received a hearing before the Board of Stewards. The outcome found that trainer Mr Juan Vazquez violated commission rules 4043.4(a), and is hereby suspended fourteen days and fined the sum of $2,000. Due to a previous ruling handed down by the Pennsylvania Board of Stewards your suspension will commence January 27th 2025, through February 9th 2025 inclusive. Furthermore, the Stewards order horse “Esor” disqualified from any part of the purse and the purse redistributed as follows.

1. (#2) Alite
2. (#9) Total Effort
3. (#4) My Boy Colton
4. (#6) Raising Sand
5. (#5) Ocean Deep
6. (#7) Napoleon Complex
7. (#1) Deputies Edge

Ordered that during your period of suspension, you shall not directly or indirectly participate in New york State pari-mutuel horse racing. You are denied the privilages and use of the grounds of all racetracks, you are forbidden to participate in any share of purses or other payment. Every horse is denied the privilages of the grounds and shall not participate in pari-mutuel racing in New York State, that (a) is owned or trained by you, or by any individuals who serves as your agent or employee during your suspension: or (b) for which you during your suspension are directly or indirectly with training, including any arrangements to care for, train enter, race, invoice, collect fees or other payments, manage funds, employ or insure workers, provide advise or other information or assist with any aspect of the training of such horses. Suspended: 01/27/2025 to 02/09/2025 (14 days)

Track: Aqueduct
Date: 11/15/2022
Licensee: Gustavo Rodriguez, trainer
Penalty: Seven-day suspension, $1,000 fine
Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: Having received a report from the NYS Gaming Commission Equine Drug Testing Laboratory of the finding of Phenylbutazone in the post-race sample taken from Horse “Ok Honey” (#7), which raced at Aqueduct Race Track in the 2nd race and finished 2nd on October 14th 2022. Trainer of record Mr. Gustavo Rodriguez having been notified of the post-race posative findings and having waived his right to an appeal, is hereby fined the sum of $1,000 and suspended 7 Calandar days effective Sunday November 20th 20022, through Saturday November 26th 2022, inclusive. Furthermore, the Stewards order horse “Ok Honey” disqualified from any part of the purse and the purse redistributed as follows:

1. (#6) Quality Stones
2. (#2) She's a Black Belt
3. (#4) Alarm Clock
4. (#3) Shadolamo
5. (#1) Alpine Queen

Ordered that during your period of suspension, you shall not directly or indirectly participate in New York State Pari-mutuel horse racing. You are denied the privilages and use of the grounds of all racetracks, you are forbidden to participate in any share of purses or other payment. Every horse is denied the privilages of the grounds and shall not participate in pari-mutuel racing in New York State, that (a) is owned or trained by you, or by individuals who serves as your agent or employee during your suspension: or (b) for which you during your suspension are directly or indirectly with training, including any arrangements to care for, train, enter, race, invoice, collect fees or other payments, manage funds, employ or insure workers, provide advise or other information or assist with any aspect of the training of such horses. Suspended: 11/20/2022 to 11/26/2022 (7 days)

NEW HISA STEWARDS RULINGS

HISA has recently launched its “rulings” portal, with more detailed information about the ruling decisions than has previously been made available.

HISA has shared in emails the following rulings over the past week, though some of them originate from prior weeks.
Where possible, we have added to the rulings listed below additional information from the new portal. Where we haven't, the “ruling date” corresponds to the date that rulings documentation was submitted to HISA.

When it comes to violations of the crop rule, it is important to note that HISA has established a rule limiting whip use to six strikes during a race.

Violations of Crop Rule
Aqueduct
Nik Juarez – ruling date November 5, 2022
Tamay Alpander – ruling date November 6, 2022
Dylan Davis – violation date November 10, 2022; $250 fine, one-day suspension, seven strikes

Charles Town Races and Slots
Alexis Rios Condre – ruling date November 10, 2022
Victor Rodriguez – ruling date November 10, 2022

Churchill Downs
Joseph M. Johnson – ruling date November 6, 2022
Joseph Johnson – ruling date November 10, 2022
Francisco Arrieta – violation date November 10, 2022; suspended 7 Kentucky racing days, November 19, November 20 and November 23 through November 27, 2022 (inclusive) due to multiple crop violation rulings.

Finger Lakes
Jeremias Flores – violation date November 08, 2022; $250 fine, eight strikes

Golden Gate Fields
Irving Orozco – ruling date November 11, 2022

Gulfstream Park
Wladimir Enrique Rengifo – violation date November 13, 2022; $250 fine, one-day suspension (on 11-20-22), eight strikes
Edgardo Zayas – violation date November 14, 2022; $250 fine, one-day suspension (on 12-01-22), seven strikes

Hawthorne
Jose Lopez – ruling date November 6, 2022

Keeneland
Joel Rosario – ruling date November 9, 2022

Mahoning Valley
Andrew Ramgeet – ruling date November 10, 2022

Mountaineer Park
Yuri Yaranga – violation date November 08, 2022; $250 fine, wrist over helmet
Marco Ccamaque – violation date November 13, 2022; $250 fine, wrist above helmet
Jose Davila – ruling date November 11, 2022 – Race 3
Jose Davila – ruling date November 11, 2022 – Race 4
Fernando Salazar Becarra – ruling date November 11, 2022

Remington Park
Jose Carlos Montalvo – ruling date November 10, 2022
Jose Alvarez – violation date November 11, 2022; $250 fine, one-day suspension (on 11-22-22), seven strikes
Anardis Rodriguez – violation date November 14, 2022; $250 fine, one-day suspension (on 11-21-22), seven strikes

Zia Park
Oscar Ceballos – violation date November 14, 2022; $250 fine, one-day suspension (on 11-26-22), seven strikes

Voided Claims
Churchill Downs
She'll Never Know – ruling date November 3, 2022
Loma Vista – ruling date November 3, 2022

Horseshoe Indianapolis
Rockin All Night – ruling date November 9, 2022

Parx Racing
Soupster – ruling date November 8, 2022

Turf Paradise
Wedding Chapel – ruling date November 14, 2022

Violations involving Suspension or Redistribution of Purse

Churchill Downs
Francisco Arrieta – 7-day suspension; multiple violations resulting in point accumulation warranting suspension for 7 days pursuant to HISA Rule 2283

Charles Town Races and Slots
Victor Rodriguez – excess strikes; $500 fine; 3-day suspension; 5 points; purse redistribution

Mountaineer Park
Fernando Salazar Becarra: ten strikes; $500 fine; 3-day suspension; 5 points; purse redistribution; ruling date November 11, 2022

Finger Lakes
John Ramon Davila: ten strikes; $500 fine; 3-day suspension; 5 points; purse redistribution; ruling date November 3, 2022

Appeal Request Updates
Finger Lakes
Brian M. Culnan and Clifford E. Lawrence, Jr. (owner of Kodiak Brown, ridden by John Ramon Davila)
Crop rule violation
Ruling date November 3, 2022
Appeal filed November 10, 2022
No stay requested

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