National Rulings Mar. 5-11: Sanchez-Pinero Banned Four Years, Vet Scott Banned 18 Months

[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 banned a combined four years and fined a combined $50,000 for two out-of-competition positive tests involving banned substances.

Sanchez-Pinero is already serving a combined 10-year ban for a series of medication violations stemming from 2024 onwards. That cumulative ban started on July 24 last year. This additional four-year ban begins Nov. 25, 2035.

On Apr. 24 last year, HIWU personnel took out-of-competition hair samples from Miss Hard to Get and Surprise Boss when they were stabled at Westampton Farm in Westampton Township, New Jersey.

Subsequent testing detected the presence of Clenbuterol, a banned substance, in the hair sample taken from Miss Hard to Get, and the presence of Albuterol, a banned bronchodilator, in the hair sample taken from Surprise Boss.

Though classed a banned substance, Albuterol is permitted only if given as an inhaled bronchodilator, and only if prescribed by a licensed veterinarian in the context of a valid veterinarian-patient-client relationship, according to HISA rules.

Similarly, clenbuterol is classified by HISA as a banned substance, but it is permitted for use for a maximum 30 days (within a six-month period) if accompanied with a valid veterinary prescription. Following administration, the horse in question is placed on the vets' list and unable to work or race until it tests clear.

According to both written final decisions, these penalties were meted out by HIWU after Sanchez-Pinero had failed to respond to necessary procedural notifications for more than six months, leaving him in “default” in these two latest cases.

Elsewhere this week, New Mexico and Texas based veterinarian Dr. Jason Scott has been banned 18-months and fined a total $30,000 (which includes $5,000 in arbitration costs) for possession of banned substances. His suspension began on Feb. 13 last year.

Three HIWU investigators searched Scott's truck at Sunland Park on Feb. 13 last year and found two bottles of Pitcher Plant Extract (otherwise known as Sarapin) and two bottles of Adenosine Monophosphate (also known as AMP). Both are prohibited substances under HISA.

Last July, Scott filed a federal lawsuit against both HISA and HIWU with a legal question that had yet to be litigated:

What happens at a mixed meet where both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses race, and a veterinarian who is a HISA “covered person” is found in possession of medications that are prohibited for use in Thoroughbreds, but the vet claims those substances were solely intended for Quarter Horses, whose regulation is outside of HISA's jurisdiction?

Indeed, in response to HIWU's official alleged violation notice, Scott wrote that he had not administered either substance to a “covered horse,” and that he possessed these drugs to treat “non-covered” Quarter Horses.

At the arbitration hearing, Scott further elaborated by stating how he “gave Pitcher Plant and AMP to non-Covered Horses as part of a pre-race routine that involved giving Pitcher Plant two days before a race, and AMP one day before a race, as a prophylactic measure to prevent tying up,” according to the final ruling.

In Hugh Hackney's (the arbitrator) case analysis, he also finds that Scott “followed the standard practices of the veterinarians in New Mexico at that time, and it was unclear, at best, if the [New Mexico Racing Commission] was following the rules set out for enforcement at HIWU. In fact, the commissioner of the NMRC was somewhat confused about what was covered before the investigation of Dr. Scott's truck.”

As part of HIWU's argument, they found several inconsistencies in the billing records he filed pre-hearing to explain the use of these drugs in Quarter Horses in his care, including 47 horses who appeared to have been administered Sarapin and AMP twice on the same day with no apparent justification.

These records also allegedly showed Scott had administered Phenylbutazone 17 times (on different dates and two different invoices) to Quarter Horses on the day before a race in violation of state rules.

HIWU asserted that “the billing record did not contain any medical impressions, diagnoses, or treatment records, and Dr. Scott did not provide any additional medical records,” according to the final ruling.

Scott blamed these inconsistencies on bookkeeping errors by his administrative staff.

“The basic facts are not in dispute, but the basis for the selection of Dr. Scott's van by Investigator Bennett remains questionable,” wrote Hackney, before meting out the penalties to Scott with the qualifier that they are “based on everything previously discussed and presented in this matter.”

The final ruling can be read here.

Resolved ADMC Violations

Dates: 03/10/2026

Licensee: Penny Rone, 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.

Explainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Machico Madeira, who won at Mahoning Valley on 2/1/26.

Dates: 03/10/2026

Licensee: Miguel Penaloza, 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.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Dexamethasone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Maliblue, who won at Parx Racing on 1/14/26.

Dates: 03/10/2026

Licensee: Daniel Hernandez, 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); the following cases are treated as one violation as under 09/08/23 HISA Guidance. Final decision of HIWU.

Explainer: Medication violations for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in samples taken from Holy Bullet, who finished second at Sunland Park on 1/5/26 and again 1/18/26; and from Lovesunfair, who finished second at Sunland Park on 1/5/26 and sixth at Sunland Park on 1/19/26.

Dates: 03/10/2026

Licensee: Daniel Hernandez, 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 of HIWU.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Julia's Promise, who won at Sunland Park on 1/4/26.

Dates: 03/09/2026

Licensee: Carlos A. David, trainer

Penalty: A written Reprimand; 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); imposition of 2 Penalty Points. Final decision of HIWU.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Caffeine—a class B controlled substance—in a sample taken from One Sweet Girl, who won at Gulfstream Park on 11/23/25.

Dates: 03/09/2026

Licensee: Dr. Jason Scott, veterinarian

Penalty: 18-month period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on February 13, 2025; a fine of $25,000; payment of $5,000 in arbitration costs. Final decision of arbitral body.

Explainer: Possession of Pitcher Plant Extract (Sarapin) and Adenosine Phosphate (AMP)—both banned substances—for an event dated 2/13/25.

Dates: 03/05/2026

Licensee: Angel Sanchez-Pinero, trainer

Penalty: Combined 4-year period of Ineligibility for Covered Person, beginning on November 25, 2035; 60-day period of Ineligibility for Covered Horses, beginning on April 24, 2025; a combined fine of $50,000 for the following two cases. Final decision of HIWU.

Explainer: Out-of-competition medication violations for the presence of Clenbuterol—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Miss Hard to Get on 4/24/25; and for the presence of Albuterol—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Surprise Boss on 4/24/25.

Dates: 03/05/2026

Licensee: William E. March, 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 of HIWU.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Protest, who won at Tampa Bay on 1/14/26.

Dates: 03/04/2026

Licensee: Craig Lewis, 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 of internal adjudication panel.

Explainer: Medication violation for the presence of Methocarbamol—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Kikuride, who won at Del Mar on 8/31/25.

Pending ADMC Violations

03/10/2026, Joe Toye, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Roll Dem Bones, who finished fifth at Turf Paradise on 2/4/26.

03/10/2026, Arturo Chavez, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Albuterol (Salbutamol)—a banned substance—in a sample taken from She Mysterious on 12/9/25.

03/09/2026, Carla Gaines, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Diclofenac—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Royal Rumor on 2/8/26.

03/09/2026, Manuel Badilla, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Coolwind on 2/4/26.

03/06/2026, Isaiah L. Ortiz, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Ketoprofen—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Riding By on 2/4/26.

03/06/2026, Danny Gargan, trainer: Pending vets' list medication violation for the presence of Omeprazole—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Wine Money on 2/4/26.

03/06/2026, A Ferris Allen III, trainer: Pending medication violation for the presence of Phenylbutazone—a class C controlled substance—in a sample taken from Misty Boss, who finished second at Laurel Park on 1/23/25.

03/05/2026, Luis Diaz, trainer: Pending out-of-competition medication violation for the presence of Albuterol (Salbutamol)—a banned substance—in a sample taken from Game to Play on 12/27/25.

Crop Violations

Mahoning Valley

Jason Simpson – violation date March 11; $1,500 fine, ten-day suspension

Oaklawn Park

Assael Espinoza – violation date March 8; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Parx Racing

Yedsit Hazlewood – violation date March 9; $500 fine, four-day suspension

Sunland Park

Keviin Carmona – violation date March 9; $500 fine, three-day suspension

Tampa Bay Downs

Israel Rodriguez – violation date March 8; $500 fine, two-day suspension

Wesley G. Ho – violation date March 7; $500 fine, two-day suspension

Turfway Park

Orlando Bocachica – violation date March 7; $1,500 fine, nine-day suspension

Juan Meza – violation date March 7; $250 fine, one-day suspension

Yedsit Hazlewood – violation date March 7; $500 fine, one-day suspension

Sammy Barnett – violation date March 7; $76 fine, horse disqualified (Barnett struck his mount 15 times), no other information available

Juan Gabriel Lagunes – violation date March 7; $250 fine, one-day suspension.

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