National Rulings: Nov. 20-26; Trainer Sanchez-Pinero Banned Two Years

[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, trainer Angel Sanchez-Pinero has been handed a two-year suspension and $10,000 fine after his trainee Gone Boy tested positive for the bronchodilator Albuterol (Salbutamol) after winning at Aqueduct on April 19. Albuterol is a banned substance.

The ruling came from an arbitrator on the case. Sanchez-Pinero's suspension began November 25. There's currently no detailed written description of the ruling available on HIWU's website.

This is the fourth ruling handed to Sanchez-Pinero since the launch of HISA's anti-doping and medication control program.

In January of last year, he was issued a $500 fine for a glycopyrrolate positive (which is a class C controlled substance). In August of last year, he was handed another $500 fine for putting Vick's VapoRub (which contains camphor, a class C controlled substance) in a horse's nostrils prior to a race.

In July of this year, Sanchez-Pinero was issued a 30-day suspension for a post-race phenylbutazone positive. The trainer has a further eight separate medication violation cases pending.

According to Equibase, Sanchez-Pinero has been training on and off since 2003. He has 37 wins to his name and over $1.1 million in earnings.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Dates: 11/25/2025
Licensee: Keri Brion, trainer
Penalty: A written Reprimand (per 9/26/23 HISA Guidance). Admission.
Explainer: Vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole (Gastrogard)-a class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Like a Dream on 10/25/25.

Dates: 11/25/2025
Licensee: Jose R. Gonzalez Jr., trainer
Penalty: 15-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 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 $1,000; imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision of internal adjudication panel.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Cannabidiol (CBD)-a class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Charlee Mae, who won at Prairie Meadows on 7/26/25.

Dates: 11/25/2025
Licensee: Angel Sanchez-Pinero, trainer
Penalty: 2-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 25, 2025; 60-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Horse, beginning on April 19, 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 $10,000. Final decision of arbitral body.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of bronchodilator Albuterol (Salbutamol)-a banned substance-in a sample taken from Gone Boy, who won at Aqueduct on 4/19/25.

Dates: 11/24/2025
Licensee: Fenneka Tracey Bentley, trainer
Penalty: 7-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 25, 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 1.5 Penalty Points. Admission.
Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Betamethasone-a class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Tiger Paw, who finished seventh at Laurel Park on 10/12/25.

Dates: 11/20/2025
Licensee: Robert Cline, 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 Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)-a class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Pittsburgh, who won at Thistledown on 10/8/25.

Pending ADMC Violations
11/24/2025, Anthony Margotta, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Acepromazine-a class B controlled substance-in a sample taken from Stop Being Greedy on 10/24/25.

11/20/2025, Michael Catalano, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone-a class C controlled substance-in a sample taken from Mr Sandman on 10/24/25.

The post National Rulings: Nov. 20-26; Trainer Sanchez-Pinero Banned Two Years appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article