Three more Joe Sharp horses have been disqualified from purse money for testing positive for the drug levamisole, this time in Kentucky, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. The news comes after nine Sharp horses were DQ'ed for the same drug in Louisiana earlier this year. Sharp previously said that he had five horses test positive for the drug last fall at Churchill and was awaiting word from Churchill stewards on the matter. Levamisole is listed as a Class 2 drug by the Association of Racing Commissioners International, largely for its potential to metabolize into the powerful stimulant aminorex.
According to the report, the horses that tested positive at Churchill and were disqualified were Diane Connell's Street Dazzle (Street Sense), winner of the fourth race Nov. 23, Brad Kelley's Blackberry Wine (Oxbow), winner of the fifth race Nov. 30 and W. Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (Bernardini), winner of the sixth race Nov. 30. Blackberry Wine was also subsequently disqualified from a victory Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds.
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