By Dan Ross
Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)-related rulings from around the country.
Among this week's rulings, several provisional suspensions have been handed out in cases pending a formal hearing. This includes trainers Frederico Villafranco and Diana Morici, who have been issued provisional suspensions for separate alleged methamphetamine positives.
Trainer Francisco Ramos remains provisionally suspended with two additional alleged clenbuterol positives to go with four prior pending clenbuterol cases. Five of these cases–including the two most recent–were from out-of-competition tests. The other pending case is an alleged vets' list medication violation.
There were also two more alleged positives for metformin, a controversial banned substance playing an outsized role in HISA's drug enforcement efforts. Neither trainer, Greg Foley or James Lawrence II, have been suspended pending a formal hearing. Read more on that particular story here.
NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS
The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the HIWU “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.
Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 06/27/2024
Licensee: Ricardo Bailey, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Mutiny, who won at Thistledown on 5/8/24.
Date: 06/27/2024
Licensee: Patrick Reynolds, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Uncle Water Flow, who won at Thistledown on 5/8/24.
Date: 06/27/2024
Licensee: Michael Hewitt, trainer
Penalty: None. Equine anti-doping notice–for an alleged methamphetamine positive–withdrawn as the B sample did not confirm the A sample.
Date: 06/28/2024
Licensee: Joseph Davis, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Vino Caldo on 5/22/24.
Date: 07/01/2024
Licensee: Anthony Granitz, trainer
Penalty: Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); a fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Timeless Rose, who finished third at Tampa Bay on 4/13/24.
Date: 07/01/2024
Licensee: Patrick Reynolds, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand; Disqualification of Covered Horse's Race results, including forfeiture of all purses and other compensation, prizes, trophies, points, and rankings and repayment or surrender (as applicable); imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU. Final decision by HIWU.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Caffeine-Controlled Medication (Class B)-in a sample taken from Cauteloso, who won at Parx Racing on 3/25/24.
Date: 07/01/2024
Licensee: Mark Glatt, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance) for an alleged vets' list medication violation for Caffeine.
Date: 07/01/2024
Licensee: Herold A Simms, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Intra-articular injection within 7 days of a timed and reported workout on the horse, Nature Boy.
Pending ADMC Violations
06/26/2024, Andy Mathis, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-Controlled Medication (Class B)-in a sample taken from Lookin at Sweetie on 5/27/24.
06/27/2024, Diane Morici, trainer: Provisional suspension for a medication violation for the presence of Methamphetamine-a banned substance-in a sample taken from Gambling Tzar, who won at Laurel Park on 3/10/24.
06/27/2024, Francisco Ramos, trainer: Provisional suspension for an out-of-competition medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol-permitted for use with specific conditions-in a sample taken from Total Smokeshow on 6/1/24.
06/27/2024, Francisco Ramos, trainer: Provisional suspension for an out-of-competition medication violation for the presence of Clenbuterol-permitted for use with specific conditions-in a sample taken from Tequila Flats on 6/1/24.
06/28/2024, James Lawrence II, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Metformin-a banned substance-in a sample taken from Cherished Wish, who finished second at Penn National on 5/23/24.
06/28/2024, Gregory Foley, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Metformin-a banned substance-in a sample taken from Camaro Z, who finished third in the Audobon S. at Churchill Downs on 6/1/24.
07/01/2024, Lisa Reed, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Drinking Solo, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 5/29/24.
07/01/2024, Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Glycopyrrolate-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Six the Hard Way on 6/1/24.
07/02/2024, Dalton Dieter, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)-Controlled Medication (Class B)-in a sample taken from Trip to Freedom, who finished second at Prairie Meadows on 5/24/24.
07/02/2024, Dalton Dieter, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)-Controlled Medication (Class B)-in a sample taken from Sir Angus on 5/23/24.
07/02/2024, Brittany Vandenberg, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Maqamat, who won at Hawthorne on 5/26/24.
07/02/2024, Brittany Vandenberg, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-Controlled Medication (Class C)-in a sample taken from Khozan's Success, who won at Hawthorne on 5/26/24.
07/02/2024, Dalton Dieter, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)-Controlled Medication (Class B)-in a sample taken from Thundershook, who won at Prairie Meadows on 5/27/24.
07/03/2024, Frederico Villafranco, trainer: Provisional suspension for a medication violation for the presence of Methamphetamine-a banned substance-in a sample taken from Asset Basis, who won at Will Rogers on 3/26/24.
07/03/2024, Juan Arriagada, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-Controlled Medication (Class B)-in a sample taken from Alexa's Dream, who won at Delaware Park on 5/22/24.
07/03/2024, Charles Essex, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-Controlled Medication (Class B)-in a sample taken from The Golden Egg, who finished second at Emerald Downs on 5/31/24.
Violations of Crop Rule
One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.
Los Alamitos
- Cesar Ortega – violation date June 29; $250 fine and one-day suspension
Monmouth Park
- Jorge Vargas – violation date June 28; $500 fine and three-day suspension
Prairie Meadows
- Kenneth Sean Tohill – violation date June 28; $250 fine, $13,750 purse forfeit and one-day suspension
Thistledown
- Braxton S. Carmouche – violation date July 1; $250 fine and $624 purse forfeit
The TDN also 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.
California
Los Alamitos
Date: 06/30/2024
Licensee: Peter Miller, trainer
Penalty: Official warning. “Trainer Peter Miller who started the horse Sir Pistolero on May 11, 2024, at Santa Anita Park is issued an 'Official Warning' for failure to produce 30 day Veterinarian Records.”
New York
Aqueduct
Date: 06/28/2024
Licensee: George Weaver, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine. “Mr. George Weaver is hereby fined the sum of $1,000 for failing to tend to business in a professional manner necessitating a scratch in the 2nd race at Aqueduct Racetrack on June 28th 2024.”
Abnel Bocachica – violation date June 27; three-day suspension for careless riding
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