Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, Dec. 5-11

Every week, the TDN posts a roundup of the relevant Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)-related rulings from around the country.

Among the key rulings from the last seven days, trainer Philip Aristone has been suspended for a combined 105 days and fined a total $7,500 after two of his horses tested positive post-race for Lamotrigine, a Class A controlled medication under HISA.

According to the National Institutes of Health, Lamotrigine is an anti-seizure, anti-epilepsy drug that is also used off-label to treat other human health issues like acute bipolar depression, fibromyalgia, schizophrenia, and unipolar depression.

Los Alamitos-based trainer Reed Saldana has also been banned for two years and fined $25,000 after one of his horses tested positive post-race for the banned substance, Diisopropylamine, a vasodilator, meaning it can cause blood vessels to open or dilate. Diisopropylamine is also found in commonly used human products like hand sanitizer.

A Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) arbitration body heard Saldana's case, for which he did not engage an attorney.

The next option for covered persons who wish to contest a HIWU arbitration decision is to appeal the result to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

NEW HISA/HIWU STEWARDS RULINGS

The following rulings were reported on HISA's “rulings” portal and through the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit's (HIWU) “pending” and “resolved” cases portals.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Date: 11/4/2023

Licensee: Jeff Hiles, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Final decision by HIWU.

Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314—Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method—on the horse, Blue Devil. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222—Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Date: 11/01/2023

Licensee: Steve Krebs, 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: For the presence of Guaifenesin—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Burn The Evidence, who won at Parx Racing on 11/1/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 10/31/2023

Licensee: Ortis Henry, 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: For the presence of Glycopyrrolate—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Empress Palpatine, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 10/31/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 10/29/2023

Licensee: Michael Ferraro, trainer

Penalty: A fine of $3,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314—Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method—on the horse, Princess Sonya. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222—Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.

Date: 09/06/2023

Licensee: Carl James Deville, trainer

Penalty: No penalties. HIWU withdrew its Equine Anti-Doping (EAD) charges.

Explainer: For the presence of Tapentadol and Butalbital—banned substances—in a sample taken from Eurobeliever, who was pulled up and vanned off at Presque Isle Downs on 9/6/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 09/06/2023

Licensee: Philip Aristone, trainer

Penalty: 45-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on January 5, 2024; 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 $5,000; imposition of 3 Penalty Points; Additional 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 19, 2024, as a result of the accumulation of 6 penalty points.Admission.

Explainer: For the presence of Lamotrigine—Controlled Medications (Class A)—in a sample taken from Jewels in the Bay, who won at Parx Racing on 9/06/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 9/03/2023

Licensee: Debbie Van Horne, 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: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from You're the Cause, who won at Emerald Downs on 9/3/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 08/12/2023

Licensee: Faustino Patino Lopez, 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: For the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Night to Remember, who finished third at Emerald Downs on 8/12/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of a Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List Workout).

Date: 08/08/2023

Licensee: Michael Pappada, trainer

Penalty: No penalties. HIWU withdrew its Equine Anti-Doping (EAD) charges.

Explainer: For the presence of Tapentadol—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Truckin Tommy, who finished third at Presque Isle Downs on 8/8/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 08/04/2023

Licensee: Philip Aristone, trainer

Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on December 6, 2023; 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 $2,500; imposition of 3 Penalty Points. Admission.

Explainer: For the presence of Lamotrigine—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Field Letters, who won at Penn National on 8/4/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Date: 06/16/2023

Licensee: Reed Saldana, trainer

Penalty: 24-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on July 6, 2023; 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 $25,000; payment of $12,000 of arbitration costs. Final decision of an arbitral body.

Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Ice Queen, who finished third at Santa Anita on 6/16/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Read more on the story here.

Pending ADMC Violations

Date: 11/05/2023

Licensee: Anthony Farrior, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Metformin—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Geothermal, who raced at Laurel Park on 11/5/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Read more on the story here.

Date: 11/05/2023

Licensee: Jose Puentes, trainer

Penalty: Pending

Alleged violation: Medication violation

Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from J and K Express. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).

Violations of Crop Rule

One important note: HISA's whip use limit is restricted to six strikes during a race.

Los Alamitos

Tyler Baze – violation date Dec 8; $250 fine, one-day suspension

J.G. Torrealba – violation date Dec 8; $250 fine, one-day suspension