Weekly National Regulatory Rulings, July 24-30

[Wandering Eyes]

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

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.

Among this week's rulings, Angel Sanchez-Pinero was suspended 30-days for a phenylbutazone positive stemming from February-the latest action amid a series of alleged offenses facing the trainer.

This includes another pending violation issued against Sanchez-Pinero this week concerning the alleged breach of rule 3230(b)(2), related to “Causing a Covered Horse to Violate its Provisional Suspension.”

The horse in question is 3-year-old filly, Laguardia. HIWU provisionally suspended the then Sanchez-Pinero trained Laguardia after the filly had tested positive for bronchodilator Formoterol (Aformoterol)–a banned substance–after finishing second at Parx Racing Mar. 26. HIWU officially posted this notice June 11.

Laguardia has since then started twice at Mountaineer-a track that being in West Virginia falls outside of HISA's jurisdiction–for trainer Juan Vazquez.

When asked about the nature of Sanchez-Pinero's alleged breach of rule 3230(b)(2) with Laguardia, a HIWU spokesperson wrote that “Sanchez-Pinero oversaw a breeze by Laguardia while she was Provisionally Suspended. A Covered Horse cannot complete a Timed and Reported Workout (i.e., breeze) while Provisionally Suspended.”

Sanchez-Pinero is facing six other separate pending violations under HIWU, five of which concern alleged Anti-Doping rule violations involving banned substances, and a separate controlled medication positive.

On May 8, HISA issued Sanchez-Pinero a provisional suspension and notice of violation, arguing that there was “clear and convincing evidence” the trainer's actions or inactions “present an immediate threat of serious injury or death” to licensed horses and riders.

Resolved ADMC Violations
Date: 07/29/2025
Licensee: Jamie Grubbs, 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 Diclofenac–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Halloween, who won at Belterra Park 6/13/25.

Date: 07/28/2025
Licensee: Justin Evans, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Big Beauty 6/20/25.

Date: 07/25/2025
Licensee: Jonathaniel Badillo, trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on July 26, 2025; 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 2 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Capsaicin–a Class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Spotten Bull, who finished fourth at Parx Racing 6/15/25.

Date: 07/24/2025
Licensee: Jeff Mullins, trainer
Penalty: A fine of $500; imposition of 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone–a class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Sparta F.C. 6/5/25.

Date: 07/23/2025
Licensee: Kelli Martinez, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning July 24, 2025; 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. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)–a class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from American Sue, who finished second at Prairie Meadows 6/14/25.

Date: 07/23/2025
Licensee: Angel Sanchez-Pinero, trainer
Penalty: 30-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning July 24, 2025; 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 1.5 Penalty Points. Final decision by internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a controlled substance (Class C)–in a sample taken from Dynamitendiamonds, who finished fifth at Aqueduct 2/1/25.

Pending ADMC Violations
07/30/2025, Timothy Murphy, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone and Methocarbamol-both Class C controlled substances-in a sample taken from More Vino, who finished second at Finger Lakes 5/12/25; and for the presence of Methocarbamol–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Tacony Road, who won the George W. Barker Stakes at Finger Lakes 5/26/25.

07/29/2025, Hernan Parra, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Mischievous Han, who finished fifth at Gulfstream Park 6/29/25.

07/29/2025, Patrick Ashton, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Max Forward Speed, who won at Parx Racing 6/7/25.

07/29/2025, Calixto Juarez, trainer: Pending medication violation for the possession of banned substance Ethanol, and for the attempted use of Ethanol on an event dated 6/4/25.

07/29/2025, Maria Pinzon, trainer: Pending medication violation for the possession of Isoxuprine–a banned substance–for an event dated 4/4/25.

07/28/2025, Tito Felix Moreno, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Flunixin–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Terpeye, who finished second at Belterra Park 6/14/25.

07/25/2025, Lane Johnston, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine–a Class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Denington on 6/30/25.

07/25/2025, Daniel Steve Harvey, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Caffeine–a Class B controlled substance–in a sample taken from Leopardi, who finished second at Tampa Bay 4/16/25.

07/24/2025, Gene Jacquot, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Dantrolene–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Annie One Sock on 6/23/25.

07/24/2025, Ralph D'Alessandro, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Signifying Nothing, who won at Finger Lakes 6/17/25.

07/24/2025, Angel Sanchez-Pinero, trainer: For the alleged breach of rule 3230(b)(2), “Causing a Covered Horse to Violate its Provisional Suspension.” A more detailed description of the alleged violations can be found above.

07/23/2025, Kieron Magee, trainer: Pending vet's list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)–a Class C controlled substance–in a sample taken from Love to Eat 6/17/25.

Violations of Crop Rule
Delaware Park
Jorge Francisco Hernandez–violation date July 24; $250 fine, one-day suspension.

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