Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, July 4-10

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.

California
Track: Los Alamitos
Date: 07/08/2023
Licensee: Rene Amescua, trainer
Penalty: $2,400 financial reimbursement
Violation: Financial responsibility
Explainer: Following a hearing held at Los Alamitos Racecourse on June 29, 2023, trainer Rene Amescua is ordered to pay Don Lockwood Horse Van Service $2,400.00 on or before August 8, 2023.  Failure to comply with this ruling will constitute a violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1876 (Financial Responsibility).

Track: Los Alamitos
Date: 07/09/2023
Licensee: Jason Hall, owner
Penalty: $10,000 fine, 30-day suspension; $5,788.76 fine to California Thoroughbred Breeders Association
Violation: Falsification of foaling location
Explainer: Owner Jason Hall, who falsified the information submitted to the The Jockey Club as to the correct foaling location for the horses REALLY BIG NEWS, WINNING BIG and KAL BARG, causing REALLY BIG NEWS and WINNING BIG, to be registered as California Bred, is fined $10,000 and suspended 30 days (July 15, 2023 thru August 13, 2023) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule # 1902 (Conduct Detrimental to Horse Racing). In addition, Jason Hall must make restitution to California Thoroughbred Breeders Association for breeders awards in the amount of $5,788.76 by August 8, 2023.

New York
Track: Belmont Park
Date: 07/4/2023
Licensee: Jamie Torres, apprentice jockey
Penalty: Fourteen-day suspension; appealed and stay granted
Violation: Careless riding
Explainer: Jockey Mr. Jaime Torres is hereby suspended 14 Calendar days July 8th 2023 through July 21st 2023 inclusive. This for careless riding during the running of the 2nd race on July 3rd 2023, having appealed a stay has been granted.

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
Belterra Park
Luis Marcano – violation date July 5; $500 fine and three-day suspension, 14 strikes
Delaware Park
Samuel D Marin – violation date July 5; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 9 strikes
Jeiron Barbosa Rodriguez – violation date July 5; $750 fine and five-day suspension, “struck his mount (Medb) at least 13 times underhanded with his hand off the neck of the horse and 3 strikes overhanded in the stretch with his crop”
Gulfstream Park
Angel Gabriel Morales – violation date July 7; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Hawthorne
Alexis Centeno – violation date July 5; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes
Los Alamitos
Abdul Alsagoor – violation date July 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Antonio Fresu – violation date July 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Ricardo Ramirez – violation date July 8; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Juan Hernandez – violation date July 8; $1,169 fine and one-day suspension, 7 strikes
Presque Isle Downs
Gary John Wales – violation date July 4; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 8 strikes
Thistledown
Andrew Ramgeet – violation date July 5; $250 fine and one-day suspension, 1-3 strikes over limit
Hector Berrios – violation date July 6; $500 fine and three-day suspension, 4-9 strikes over the limit

Pending ADMC Violations
Date: 06/18/2023
Licensee: Milton Pineda, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Bella Renella, who won at Santa Anita on 6/18/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 06/16/2023
Licensee: Reed Saldana, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
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 is a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 06/10/2023
Licensee: Milton Pineda, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Big Splash, who won at Santa Anita on 6/10/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 06/09/2023
Licensee: Carlos Munoz, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Lovielee, who finished second at Gulfstream Park on 6/9/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

Date: 06/09/2023
Licensee: Milton Pineda, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Flatterswithjewels, who finished second at Santa Anita on 6/9/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 06/07/2023
Licensee: Dennis VanMeter, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Isoxsuprine—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Templement, who finished sixth at Thistledown on 6/7/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 06/07/2023
Licensee: Dennis VanMeter, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)— in a sample taken from Templement, who finished sixth at Thistledown on 6/7/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

Date: 06/05/2023
Licensee: Scott Lake, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Phenylbutazone—Controlled Medication (Class C)— in a sample taken from Louella Street, who won at Parx Racing on 6/5/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

Date: 06/02/2023
Licensee: Milton Pineda, trainer
Penalty: Provisionally suspended
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Diisopropylamine—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Bella Renella, who won at Santa Anita on 6/2/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3212—Presence of a Banned Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 05/31/2023
Licensee: James Acquilano, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Methocarbamol—Controlled Medication (Class C)— in a sample taken from Sabreen, who finished second at Finger Lakes on 5/31/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

Date: 05/24/2023
Licensee: Wayne Sparling, trainer
Penalty: Pending
Alleged Violation: Medication violation
Explainer: For the presence of Methocarbamol—Controlled Medication (Class C)— in a sample taken from Banco Medici, who won at Finger Lakes on 5/24/23. This is a possible violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 06/9/2023
Licensee: Douglas Nunn, trainer
Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility beginning on July 8, 2023 for Smithwick's Spice; 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.
Alleged Violation: This is a violation of Rule 3313—Use of a Controlled Medication Method in relation to a Covered Horse during the Race Period. This is also a violation of Rule 4222—Intra-articular Injection within 14 days prior to post-time.

Date: 05/28/2023
Licensee: Ricardo Legall, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility beginning on July 6, 2023 for Merchants of Cool; 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.
Alleged Violation: For the presence of Levamisole—Controlled Medication (Class B)—in a sample taken from Merchants of Cool, who finished fifth at Belmont Park on 5/28/23. This is a violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.

Date: 05/28/2023
Licensee: Ricardo Legall, 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.
Alleged Violation: For the presence of Dimethylsulfoxide—Controlled Medication (Class C)—in a sample taken from Merchants of Cool, who finished fifth at Belmont Park on 5/28/23. This is a violation of Rule 3312—Presence of Controlled Medication Substance and/or its Metabolites or Markers.