Our company, ReCellerate, developed the product EquiFlow (concentrated protein serum) that was found in Mr. Potts's barn and the basis for his 45-day suspension, for the treatment of Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage (“EIPH”) or bleeding.

Last week,the company issued a press release discussing EquiFlow and addressing some of the misunderstanding about the product in the market. We also confirmed that we have no affiliation with Mr. Potts, we never sold him the product and he has never been involved in one of our investigational studies. We would greatly appreciate it if you would publish a follow-up to Mr. Finley's article citing our lack of affiliation with Mr. Potts and providing information about the product.

We have had incredible success with EquiFlow in investigational testing to date. The product has undergone preliminary testing in horses both here and in Dubai, and the results have shown that the product is both safe and effective for the treatment of EIPH or bleeding. Nearly 40 horses have been involved in such studies. Based on this success and other generated safety data, we are pursuing U.S. regulatory approval.

When approved, EquiFlow will likely be the only federally approved alternative to Lasix. Rather than simply reducing the symptoms of EIPH, our product actually treats the condition by facilitating the regeneration of the ruptured vascular wall that is the source of bleeding.

We would appreciate your assistance with informing readers, including trainers, owners and fans about the ReCellerate product.

Best regards,

Karl M. Nobert, ReCellerate, Inc

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Tiz the Bomb, a dual stakes winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile turf runner-up at two, bounced back from a seventh-place run in Gulfstream's GIII Holy Bull S. to sweep a pair of synthetic-track stakes at Turfway, and will head to Louisville after being considered for a start at Newmarket in the Apr. 30 G1 2000 Guineas.

“When we ran him in Florida, the colt didn't handle the Gulfstream surface and the kickback,” McPeek said. “That surface is a little bit different, it's deep, sand-based and he just didn't go for it. I sent him to Turfway to get his confidence back in the [John] Battaglia and that worked out. So the natural next step was the Jeff Ruby and he punched, and ran a super race. I actually felt like he would be a great horse to take over for the 2000 Guineas, and the undulation of Newmarket wasn't any harder or actually could be easier than his victory at Kentucky Downs [in the Kentucky Downs Mile S.]. But due to some logistics and technicalities, he's not going to go, and our next option is either a turf race at Churchill or the Kentucky Derby. I really think at this point, the horse probably deserves a chance.”

As for Smile Happy, a no-doubt Derby contender who will make just his second start as a 3-year-old in Saturday's Blue Grass after a runner-up effort in the GII Risen Star S., McPeek said, “This is a really special colt. I've been sitting on this horse like a keg of dynamite for months now. I didn't want more than two preps going into the Kentucky Derby. I think the [Derby qualifying] points he got in Louisiana will more than likely get him in. I want to see him run well in the Blue Grass, obviously, and being a Lexington boy, it's always fun to win the Blue Grass. I didn't want to over-race this horse this winter. I really sat on him for a reason, because I think he's a horse that can handle the progression of the Derby, Preakness and Belmont. And you've got to have some juice in the tank for those races. If you're already a little tired or you've overdone it going into those three races, obviously your horse is going to be taxed. But he could set up really well for those.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, XBTV, West Point Thoroughbreds and Legacy Bloodstock, the writers reacted to Secret Oath (Arrogate)'s valiant but losing performance in the GI Arkansas Derby, the beginning of Bob Baffert's 90-day suspension and the latest shenanigans surrounding banned trainer Wayne Potts. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The post Ken McPeek Talks Derby Hopefuls Tiz the Bomb, Smile Happy On Writers’ Room appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

CALIFORNIA
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/02/2022
Licensee: Bob Baffert, trainer
Penalty: Ninety-day suspension
Violation: Reciprocity of out-of-state medication violation penalty
Explainer: Pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1484 (Evidence of Unfitness for License) the following ruling is issued in reciprocity after receiving notice of suspension from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, ruling (21-0009) dated February 21, 2022, issuing Trainer/Owner Robert Baffert ninety suspension days. Robert Baffert is suspended for 90 days (April 4, 2022, through and including July 2, 2022).

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/02/2022
Licensee: Mario Gutierrez, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Jockey Mario Gutierrez, who rode ARDIS in the fourth race at Santa Anita Park on April 1, 2022, is suspended for 3 racing days (April 9, 10 and 15, 2022) for failure to make the proper effort to maintain a straight course in the stretch, causing interference which resulted in the disqualification of his mount from second to third place. This constitutes a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1699 (Riding Rules – Careless Riding). Pursuant to California Horse Racing Board rule #1766 (Designated Races), the term of suspension shall not prohibit participation in designated races.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/03/2022
Licensee: Jonathan Wong, trainer
Penalty: $400 fine
Violation: Late registration of Lasix
Explainer: Trainer Jonathan Wong is fined $400.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1845 (Authorized Bleeder Medication – late registration) of My Kentucky Girl in the eighth race on April 2, 2022, at Santa Anita Park.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/03/2022
Licensee: Ryan Curatolo, jockey
Penalty: $750 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Jockey Ryan Curatolo is fined $750.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop–more than six times–second offense within the past sixty days) during the third race at Santa Anita Park on April 2, 2022.

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/03/2022
Licensee: Diego Herrera, apprentice jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Apprentice Jockey Diego Herrera is fined $500.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop – more than six times) during the ninth race at Santa Anita Park on April 2, 2022.

NEW YORK
Track: Aqueduct
Date: 04/03/2022
Licensee: Kendrick Carmouche, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: For having waived his right to appeal Jockey Kendrick Carmouche is hereby suspended three NYRA racing days April 14th 2022, April 15th 2022, April 16th 2022 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the eight race at Aqueduct racetrack on March 31st 2022. Suspended: 04/14/2022 to 04/16/2022 (3 days).

Track: Aqueduct
Date: 04/03/2022
Licensee: Wayne Potts, trainer
Penalty: Forty five-day suspension
Violation: Discovery of non-FDA approved drug on trainer grounds
Explainer: Trainer Mr. Wayne Potts for having waived his right to appeal is hereby suspended 45 calendar days April 10th 2022, through May 6th 2022 inclusive, and again June 6th through June 23rd 2022 inclusive, due to a previous ruling (suspension) handed down by the New Jersey Racing Commission. This for the finding of a drug in your tackroom that has not been approved by the FDA for use in Thoroughbred horses. Ordered that during your period of suspension, you shall not directly nor indirectly participate in New York State pari-mutuel horse racing. You are denied the privileges and use of the grounds for all racetracks in New York State. You are forbidden to participate in any share of purses or other payments. Every horse is denied the privileges of the grounds and shall not participate in pari-mutuel racing in New York State, that is (a) 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 advice or other information or otherwise assist with any aspect of the training of such horses. Suspended: 04/10/2022 to 06/23/2022 (45 days).
Read more about the issue here.

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The drug was found Feb. 17.

The New York regulators decided to divide up Potts's 45 day-suspension so that it correlates with still another suspension he is facing, one from the New Jersey Racing Commission. In January, the New Jersey commission posted a ruling in which Potts and his assistant trainer Bonnie Lucas were hit with a 30-day suspension and a $1,000 fine for “conduct detrimental to racing.” On Aug. 6, 2021, Potts allegedly told Lucas to not permit one of his trainees to be vanned off the track after a race at Monmouth Park despite an order to do so from the New Jersey Racing Commission (NJRC) veterinarian. That suspension is set to begin on opening day at Monmouth, which is May 7.

Beforehand, Potts will serve the first part of his New York suspension. After the New Jersey suspension has run its course, Potts will serve the remainder of the New York suspension. All together, his suspension adds up to 75 days and runs from Apr. 10 through June 23. Potts was the leading trainer at Monmouth last year.

Potts declined to comment when reached via text by the TDN, but forwarded a letter from the company Recellerate to the New York Gaming Commission regarding a product called Equiflow, which is purported to be a treatment for exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). It goes on to describe Equiflow as “an investigational stem-cell derived concentrated protein serum developed as a treatment to EIPH.” The letter, signed by Recellerate President Karl Norbert, maintains that the product is not a performance-enhancer. Norbert writes that the FDA has approved no stem cell products for horses to date, which means that if Equiflow is regarded as an illegal substance then any horse treated in New York with any stem cell therapies would be subject to being excluded from racing.

In what appears to be unrelated to the finding of the non-FDA approved drug, NYRA announced last week that Potts was among six trainers who, effective last Wednesday, had lost their stall privileges and would be required to remove all their horses from the Belmont Park backstretch. However, Potts and the rest were being permitted to run at the NYRA tracks, for now, a moot points since Potts will be sidelined until late June.

Potts also ran afoul of authorities during last year's Saratoga meet when it was alleged he violated rules regarding a claim, which resulted in a 30-day suspension. The New York Gaming Commission charged that the horse, Mach One (Air Force Blue), was claimed by Potts's owners Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas by trainer Amira Chichakly and then transferred to Potts. Potts claimed another horse from the same race and trainers are not allowed to claim more than one horse in any given race.

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“It's not me,” he said. “It's not my phone number. I have already reached out to somebody. I don't want to get into it anymore. I have already made phone calls.”

The email includes a number in the 410 area code and the website lists a number in the 323 area code. The call to the 410 area code goes to voice mail and says that the customer's mail box is full. The call to the 323 number also went to voice mail with the person on the other end saying the caller has reached “RVN.” A message was left at that number but no one returned the call. The same 323 number is listed on the website eastcoastcappers.club, which sells sports picks from “professional handicappers” Bobby “The Bank” Thomas and Joey “Line Master” Cash and on another website for a touting service, officialpicks.com. The 410 number shows up on a tweet from a Mark Hoffman which includes a video in which he is peddling picks on the NCAA tournament.

The TDN also sent an email to the address listed on the website but, as of the deadline for this story, had no received a reply.

Whoever is behind the email and the website went to a lot of trouble in an attempt to use Potts's name to sell picks.  The website is professionally designed and includes accurate biographical information about Potts, including the fact that he had previously worked for trainer David Rose.

“I want to say this again….I am a real trainer with real horses and an edge,” the email reads. “You can look me up anytime on Google. March alone I've had two winners, Honey Money, Baby I'm Perfect, and 2nd Supreme Aura. No one has a edge more than me in this business. I combine knowledge and years of contacts to give my clients the best position.”

Trained by Potts, Honey Money (Central Banker) won a March 26 starter stakes at Aqueduct and paid $7.90. Baby I'm Perfect (Flower Alley) won another starter stakes that same day at Aqueduct, paying $14.60.

“After 20 years in the business and behind doors picking I decided to open my mind and experience and all the winners to the public,” it reads.

It continues: “I've been ranked and documented in top 100 for 6 years straight, it's now time to open up my knowledge and business to the public.

The mail touts an undisclosed pick on the Friday card at Gulfstream that is a “stunner” and can be purchased for $21. Packages are also available for prices ranging from $79 to $749. The $749 packages promises “1 quality play a day” for a month. There is also a link to a section selling picks on sporting events.

Potts's name has been in the news frequently of late, including an announcement from NYRA last week that he was among six trainers being denied stalls. He also received a 30-day suspension last year at Monmouth after being charged that he failed to follow orders from a state veterinarian to have a horse vanned off the track. Potts was the leading trainer last year at Monmouth with 38 wins.

The post Potts Says Touting Service Is Not His appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The story was first reported by the Daily Racing Form's David Grening.

NYRA's decision to not outright ban the trainers stems from a ruling issued in the Bob Baffert matter last July by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The court ruled that trainers cannot be banned at the NYRA tracks without due process, starting with a formal statement of charges. Denying or revoking stalls may not fall under the same guidelines. It was not known Friday whether or not NYRA will eventually take the steps that would be required to ban any or all of the six trainers.

The other trainers notified that they would no longer be permitted to stable at the NYRA tracks are Marvin Richardson, Luis Miranda, John McAllen and Michael Simmonds. In addition, Bonnie Lucas, an assistant to Potts, was also denied stalls, which she applied for after Potts' stall application was denied.

“NYRA retains the exclusive right and discretion to grant, deny, revoke, or reduce stall space for licensed trainers at its properties,” NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna said in a statement. “Following the completion of the stall application process for the 2022 spring meet at Aqueduct Racetrack and 2022 spring/summer meet at Belmont Park, NYRA has denied stall allocations to trainers Wayne Potts, Juan Vazquez, Marvin Richards, John McAllen, Luis Miranda and Michael Simmonds. The trainers were notified of this decision earlier this week and will be required to vacate their current stalls or transfer horses under their care by Mar. 30. Bonnie Lucas, an assistant to Potts, submitted a stall application following the denial of stalls to Potts and her application was rejected.”

The statement continued: “No matter the point of origin, all horses shipping in to race at NYRA tracks are subject to the same level of health and safety scrutiny as horses stabled on NYRA property. These protocols are effective in mitigating risk, enhancing equine safety, and protecting the integrity of the sport in New York.”

Potts and Lucas were suspended last year for 30 days by the New Jersey Racing Commission, which charged that they defied a request from a state veterinarian to have a horse vanned off the track following a claiming race. Both have appealed. Potts also ran afoul of authorities during last year's Saratoga meet when it was alleged he violated rules regarding a claim, which resulted in a 30-day suspension. The New York Gaming Commission charged that the horse, Mach One (Air Force Blue), was claimed by Potts' owners Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas by trainer Amira Chichakly and then transferred to Potts. Potts claimed another horse from the same race and trainers are not allowed to claim more than one horse in any given race. Additionally, Potts was banned from the Maryland tracks in 2020 amid allegations that he was a paper trainer for Marcus Vitali.

Potts won a career-best 61 races last year and was the leading trainer at Monmouth. He said he has 47 horses in New York and plans to relocate them to a training center in New Jersey.

“I was shocked when they told me I wasn't being allocated stalls,” Potts said. “I supported the NYRA circuit strong the last two winters when they have short fields. If this is an act to clean things up, there are other people that should be gone before myself. I don't have a whole list of mediation violations. I have done some stupid things in life, but there are other people there that have done much worse than I have.”

When asked if he fears NYRA will eventually ban him outright, Potts said: “I don't think that will happen. I had a meeting today with the racing secretary and with Frank Gabriel. They said I am still free to enter and I can conduct my business as I was before. That's what I'm going to continue to do.”

Vazquez received two consecutive 15-day suspensions from the Pennsylvania Racing Commission after two of his horses tested positive for the dewormer levamisole in races at last year at Parx. One, Hollywood Talent (Talent Search), tested positive after winning the GIII Turf Monster S. at odds of 108-1. Vazquez has filed an appeal. Vazquez has numerous suspensions and violations on his record. In one ruling, issued in 2017 in Pennsylvania, it was noted that Vazquez had eight drug positives during a 23-month period. Vazquez, who did not return a phone call seeking comment, is fifth in the Aqueduct trainer standings.

While Potts and Vasquez are prominent trainers, the others are not. Richards is 0-for-6 on the year and has won only five races in a career that began in 2017. He is facing a suspension of up to one-year from the New Jersey Racing Commission after his horse, Awesomenewyear (New Year's Day) tested positive for the prohibited medications oxazepam and ibuprofen following a Sept. 3 race at Monmouth. He has six horses stabled in New York.

“That would be something that is easy for NYRA to lean on,” Richards said of the drug positives in New Jersey. “They can say you have a positive so we're not going to give you stalls. I can't say for sure that's what it is. It might be. I'm still at Belmont, so they haven't kicked me off the racetrack yet. Where am I going to go? I'll have find a place where I can put my horses up. I'll have to try to get stalls elsewhere. It will be a great inconvenience. I live right next to [Belmont]. I don't even want to think of not being at Belmont.”

The Racing Form, citing sources, reported that McAllen was denied stalls for allegedly demonstrating an inability to properly care for his horses. He is 2-for-54 on the year and said he has 12 horses at Belmont.

“If someone wanted to come and see my horses I'd have no problem showing them to you,” McAllen said. “They are 100% perfect.”

McAllen said he will look for stall space somewhere before eventually taking his stable to Monmouth Park.

Miranda has won with just 4 percent of his career starters and is 2-for-94 since 2020. Simmonds is 1-for-19 on the year after going 2 for 75 last year. It was not immediately clear why those trainers were denied stalls.

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The infraction occurred on Aug. 21, 2021 at Presque Isle Downs in a maiden special weight race won by the Vitali-trained filly. The horse is owned by Crossed Sabres Farm.

The story was first reported by the Paulick Report.

According to the website pubmed.ncbi, methamphetamine is banned in athletic competition because it may improve athletic performance, but there are no studies assessing its effects on performance.

Vitali requested a split sample, which was conducted by the UIC Analytical Forensic Testing Laboratory in Chicago, Illinois, which confirmed the d-methamphetamine positive. The suspension began Feb. 15 and is set to expire on Feb. 14, 2023.

According to the Paulick Report, Vitali has appealed the Pennsylvania suspension. He is currently racing at Turf Paradise and is scheduled to have his next starter there in Tuesday's fourth race.

Vitali is also awaiting word from the New York Racing Association, which has scheduled a hearing that will determine if it can suspend him from racing at the New York tracks.

In a separate ruling, Vitali was fined $500 after being found on Oct. 6 to be in possession of medications without a prescription. According to the racing commission ruling, Vitali was in possession of medications known as Dr. Burch's 40 Equi-Dyne and Dr. Burch's 6 Windy. Both had labels stating that they were “for veterinarian use only.”

This is far from the first time Vitali has found himself in trouble with regulators or track officials.

There are 84 docket entries under his name in The Jockey Club's online rulings database, many of them for medication violations. Between 2011 and the start of 2016, Vitali was hit with 23 medication violations in Florida alone. He was also investigated over a complaint of animal cruelty.

In 2016, he relinquished his license in Florida after being hit with seven drug violations over a four-month period only to resurface at Mid-Atlantic tracks. In 2019, he was suspended for one-year in Delaware after it was alleged that he interfered with a search of an employee's dorm room and ran off with a vial containing an unknown substance. In 2020 he was banned at the Maryland tracks after it was charged that he was the actual trainer of horses running under the name of Wayne Potts.

Still, Vitali has found places to run. He made the bulk of his starts in 2021 at Turf Paradise and Presque Isle and also had starters at Finger Lakes, Saratoga and Lone Star Park. He made 126 starts in 2021 and won 17 races.

It was also reported by Daily Racing Form Friday that trainer Juan Vazquez was given 30 days worth of suspensions by the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission for two levamisole positives from 2021.

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The news was first reported by Dave Grenig of Daily Racing Form.

In a TDN story Saturday, it was revealed that on Aug. 6, 2021, Potts allegedly told his assistant, Bonnie Lucas, not to permit one of his trainees to be vanned off the track after a race at Monmouth Park despite an order to do so from the New Jersey Racing Commission (NJRC) veterinarian. Potts was fined $1,000 and suspended 30 days in September, with the dates of that suspension being announced just last week.

“In just the last five months, Wayne Potts has been suspended by both the New York State Gaming Commission and the New Jersey Racing Commission due to conduct in direct violation of the rules of racing,” said McKenna. “Most recently, Mr. Potts was proven to have jeopardized the health and safety of a horse by refusing to allow the horse to enter an equine ambulance as directed by a regulatory veterinarian. This is a particularly egregious breach of his most fundamental responsibility as a trainer—to ensure the well-being of horses under his care. NYRA has afforded Mr. Potts the privilege of stabling and racing at our venues, but this pattern of conduct calls into question whether he should continue to enjoy that privilege. NYRA is gathering the necessary facts to support a statement of charges and a formal administrative hearing to potentially suspend Mr. Potts from participating in racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. In the near term, NYRA is determining immediate options such as revoking his stall allotment at Belmont Park.”

The news comes amidst the hearings being held as NYRA attempts to suspend trainer Bob Baffert from racing at their facilities.

Potts ran afoul of New York authorities after an incident in August at Saratoga where he violated the `restricted' transfer rule which prohibits the claim and subsequent transfer of a horse within a 30-day timeframe.

In August 2020, Potts was barred from racing and stabling at Maryland tracks due to accusations from The Stronach Group that he was operating as a “program trainer” on the basis that he was receiving horses that had been previously trained by the suspended Marcus Vitali.

The post NYRA Considers Action Against Potts appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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The move comes after Potts received a 30-day suspension and $1,000 fine in New Jersey for allegedly directing assistant Bonnie Lucas not to allow the filly Chispita to be vanned off on an equine ambulance – as ordered by a regulatory veterinarian – after a second-place finish in a claiming race at Monmouth Park on Aug. 6, 2021.

A claim was submitted for Chispita in that race, but New Jersey Racing Commission rules state that a claim may be voided if a horse is vanned off. The claim was subsequently voided.

Lucas, also listed as the owner, received  a 30-day suspension as well as a $1,000 fine.

The 30-day ban is just the latest sanction against Potts, who was suspended 20 days in New York last year for violating claiming rules and also in 2021 received a 15-day suspension for a medication violation in New Jersey. In 2020, he was excluded by track management from participating at Maryland Jockey Club tracks for allegedly operating as a program trainer for Marcus Vitali, who was also banned by the MJC. In 2019, Potts was suspended in Delaware for non-payment of invoices from a veterinary firm. Three years before that, Potts was fined in Maryland for operating his racing stable without workers' compensation insurance for nearly seven months. It was only after an exercise rider was injured that it was discovered that the workers' comp policy had been cancelled.

“In just the last five months, Wayne Potts has been suspended by both the New York State Gaming Commission and the New Jersey Racing Commission due to conduct in direct violation of the rules of racing,” said Pat McKenna, vice president of communications for the New York Racing Association. “Most recently, Mr. Potts was proven to have jeopardized the health and safety of a horse by refusing to allow the horse to enter an equine ambulance as directed by a regulatory veterinarian. This is a particularly egregious breach of his most fundamental responsibility as a trainer – to ensure the well-being of horses under his care.

“NYRA has afforded Mr. Potts the privilege of stabling and racing at our venues, but this pattern of conduct calls into question whether he should continue to enjoy that privilege. NYRA is gathering the necessary facts to support a statement of charges and a formal administrative hearing to potentially suspend Mr. Potts from participating in racing at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course. In the near term, NYRA is determining immediate options such as revoking his stall allotment at Belmont Park.”

Chispita has not raced since running for a $7,500 claiming price in that Aug. 6 race.

Potts told Daily Racing Form's David Grening he intends to appeal the New Jersey suspension. Grening also reported Potts told him Chispita is “turned out on a farm.”

The Paulick Report was subsequently contacted by Florida horsewoman Julie Ramgeet, who said she facilitated the private sale of Chispita from trainer David Fawkes to Potts last year. Ramgeet, who said her policy is to follow up on all horses she sells after their racing careers end, said Chispita has been retired from racing and is serving as a riding horse for a young person.

The post ‘Egregious Breach … Of Fundamental Responsibility’: Trainer Potts Under Scrutiny By NYRA appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Both Potts and Lucas—who in addition to being an assistant trainer, was also the owner of Chispita, the filly in question—were fined $1,000 and suspended 30 days for their actions in a September ruling.

On Jan. 21, 2022, the NJRC issued a separate ruling defining the exact dates of their suspensions. They are now set to coincide with the start of the coming Monmouth meet, from May 7 through June 5.

Chispita finished second in that race, a $7,500 NW2L claimer. The Equibase chart noted that she “dug in and held on.”

The chart also stated that a claim for Chispita was voided, with “vet” listed as the reason.

Chispita hasn't raced since.

It was unclear at deadline for this story if Potts or Lucas have appealed or plan to appeal.

That first week in August last year was an eventful one for Potts.

On Aug. 4 at Saratoga Race Course, Potts had ownership clients wanting to claim a horse, Mach One, but Potts allegedly told them he couldn't because he had already made a commitment to another owner who wanted to claim a different horse out of the same race.

So another trainer, Amira Chichakly, claimed Mach One for $20,000 on behalf of owners Frank Catapano and Nicholas Primpas.

Three days later, Mach One was transferred from Chichakly to Potts.

When the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) found out, Potts was suspended 30 days and fined $2,000 for violating the “restricted transfer” rule that prohibits he claim and subsequent transfer of a horse within the prohibited 30-day time frame.

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