Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, June 20-26

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.

Kentucky
Track: Churchill Downs at Ellis Park
Date: 06/18/2023
Licensee: Reyluis Gutierrez, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Reyluis Gutierrez, who rode Miranda Rights in the sixth race at Ellis Park on June 17, 2023 is hereby suspended three (3) racing days, June 24, June 25 and June 29, 2023 for careless riding in the stretch that resulted in the disqualification of his mount.

Track: Churchill Downs at Ellis Park
Date: 06/23/2023
Licensee: Gregory Romero, jockey
Penalty: Three-day suspension
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: For failure to properly serve the suspension imposed by rule #22-0054 issued on April 27, 2022 (was also suspended in another jurisdiction during the Kentucky suspension dates), Gregory Romero is now suspended three racing days, June 25, June 29, and June 30, 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
Alameda County Fair Grounds
Epifanio Garcia – violation date June 23; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Evin Abdiel Roman – violation date June 24; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Delaware Park
Keimar Trotman – violation date June 22; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Finger Lakes
Carlos Damian Camilo – violation date June 21; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Hawthorne
Alexander Bendezu – violation date June 21; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Luis H Colon – violation date June 21; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes

Los Alamitos
Joe Bravo – violation date June 23; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes
Assael Espinoza – violation date June 24; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes
Diego Herrera – violation date June 24; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes
Barrington Harvey – violation date June 25; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes

Thistledown
Hector L Rosario – violation date June 24; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 1-3 strikes over the limit

Pending ADMC Violations
Date: 05/25/2023
Licensee: Sandino Hernandez, Jr., trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Naproxen—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Jonas' Dream, who finished first in Race 4 at Gulfstream Park on 5/25/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

Date: 05/31/2023
Licensee: John T. Brown, trainer
Penalty: Provisional suspension
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer:  For the presence of Isoxsuprine—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Rollin On Tequila, who finished sixth in Race 2 at Thistledown on 5/31/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 06/02/2023
Licensee: Arnoud Dobber, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer:  For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Fast Fixer, who finished first in Race 8 at Gulfstream Park on 6/02/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.