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, trainer Carlos Mancilla has been suspended for 15 days for a post-race Gabapentin positive from Sept. 10, and fined $1,000. Gabapentin, a Class B controlled medication, is an anti-seizure medicine for humans that is also used to treat complications from shingles.
According to the final ruling by an internal adjudication panel, Mancilla said that the positive probably came about because of the horse, Cara in the City, ingesting straw contaminated with Gabapentin through urine. “Mr. Mancilla however did not provide any concrete evidence to support this assertion,” the final ruling states.
The internal adjudication panel issued Mancilla the maximum possible sanction for a first Class B controlled medication violation under HISA.
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
Resolution Date: 02/23/2024
Licensee: Jeffrey Englehart, trainer
Penalty: No penalty. Equine Anti-Doping charge withdrawn.
Explainer: For the presence of Clenbuterol—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Fast Heart. This was a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.
More on the story here.
Resolution Date: 02/22/2024
Licensee: Reynaldo Yanez, trainer
Penalty: No penalty. Equine Controlled Medication charge withdrawn.
Explainer: A possible violation of Rule 3314—Use or Attempted Use of a Controlled
Medication Substance or a Controlled Medication Method—on the horse, That Magic Moment. This was also a possible violation of Rule 4222—Intra-Articular Injections Within Seven (7) Days of Timed and Reported Workout.
Date: 02/22/2024
Licensee: Carlos Mancilla, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 23, 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 $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points.
Explainer: For the presence of Gabapentin—Controlled Medications (Class B)—in a sample taken from Cara in the City, who finished second at Pimlico on 9/10/23. This was a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Pending ADMC Violations
Date: 02/06/2024
Licensee: Lacy Pierce, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Vets' list medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Acepromazine—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Mamba Forever on 2/6/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Date: 02/03/2024
Licensee: Howard Love, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Vets' list medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Slender Slipper on 2/3/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Date: 12/30/2023
Licensee: Bruce Levine, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Fortune's Nephew, who finished third at Aqueduct on 12/30/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Date: 12/15/2023
Licensee: Brittany Russell, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Battling Time, who won at Laurel Park on 12/15/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Date: 01/03/2024
Licensee: Jorge Diaz, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Xylazine—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Celtic Treasure, who did not finish a race at Parx Racing on 1/3/24 (according to Equibase, Celtic Treasure was “injured in the early stages, pulled up and vanned off”). This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Date: 11/13/2023
Licensee: Juan Guerrero, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Dexamethasone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Crypt, who won at Parx Racing on 11/13/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Date: 01/26/2024
Licensee: Frank Santillana, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Flunixin—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Mi Gusto Es, who finished tenth at Tampa Bay on 1/26/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Date: 12/09/2023
Licensee: Jeffrey Englehart, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Vets' list medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Storm the Empire on 12/9/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Date: 01/19/2024
Licensee: Flint Stites, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the potential breach of Rule 4221—Alkalinization or use/administration of an Alkalinizing Agent (TCO2)—on Rock Anna Roll, who finished fifth at Penn National on 1/19/2024. This is also a possible violation of Rule 3313—Use of a Controlled Method During the Race Period.
Date: 01/02/2024
Licensee: Carla Morgan, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Xylazine—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from River City Rocker on 1/2/24. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers (Post-Race/Vets' List).
Date: 01/28/2024
Licensee: Michael Simone, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Another Duke, who won at Tampa Bay on 1/28/24. 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.
Santa Anita
Drayden Van Dyke – violation date Feb 23; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 9 strikes
Kazushi Kimura – violation date Feb 23; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
OTHER KEY RULINGS
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
Track: Santa Anita
Date: 02/25/2024
Licensee: Rolando Quinonez, trainer
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Non-compliance with pre-workout veterinarian examinations
Explainer: Trainer Rolando Quinonez is fined $1,000.00 for violations of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1878 (Workouts – No 72-hour pre-workout Veterinarian examinations [Non-compliance for 28 out of 238 workouts]) between January 1, 2022, through August 20, 2023.
New York
Track: Aqueduct
Date: 02/20/2024
Licensee: Nancy Vutz, racing official
Penalty: $1,500
Violation: Lasix administration error
Explainer: Racing Official Dr. Nancy Vutz is hereby fined the sum of $1,500 for failing to conduct business in a proper manner necessitating a scratch in Race #3 at Aqueduct Racetrack on February 19, 2024.
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