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December 2017 Thoroughbred Rulings - Maryland Racing Commission

December 2, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-193 The Stewards do hereby rescind the 2017 MRC owner license, issued to Adam King.
This license had been issued in error due to an omission of a ruling on his license application.

December 3, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-194 In the matter of Trin-Brook Stables, subject, of Steward’s Ruling #17- 167 dated October
15, 2017.

Having satisfied their financial obligation to the Maryland Thoroughbred Purse Account as of November 11, 2017, owner Trin-Brook Stables is reinstated to good standing with the Maryland Racing Commission and declared eligible to participate in racing.

December 7, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-195 Trainer, Jamie Ness is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
for not having the colors for “Myheartsinthecity”, entered to run in the third race at Laurel Park on December 3, 2017, after receiving a warning on (09/08/2017 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

December 15, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-196 Trainer, Jamie Ness is fined one hundred dollars ($100.00)
for not having the colors for “Roethlisberger”, entered to run in the second race at Laurel Park on December 10, 2017, after receiving a fine on (12/07/2017 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

December 15, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-197 Trainer, Andrew Simoff is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
for not having the colors for “Balharbour Miss”, entered to run in the third race at Laurel Park on December 10, 2017, after receiving a warning on (12/02/2017 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

December 15, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-198 Trainer, Jamie Ness is fined one hundred dollars ($100.00)
for not having the colors for “Rocking JoJo”, entered to run in the eighth race at Laurel Park on December 11, 2017, after receiving a fine on (12/10/2017 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

December 17, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-199 On December 14, 2017, the Stewards received notice from Truesdail Laboratories, Inc., that blood sample #15932, dated November 23, 2017, contained the drug methocarbamol at a level of 4.97+- 0.19 ng/ml, which is in excess of the accepted threshold level of 1 ng/ml of plasma.
The Stewards, have established that blood sample #15932 was taken from the horse “Dothat Dance”, owned by Richard A. Brooks, Jr. and trained by Noah Abramson, following the running of the ninth race at Laurel Park on November 23, 2017. The Stewards notified Mr. Abramson that: (1) the presence of methocarbamol at this level in the system of “Dothat Dance” at the time the horse ran constituted a violation under COMAR 09.10.03.04 Drug Prohibition - Horses; (2) he had the right to have the split sample tested by an independent laboratory prior to the Stewards conducting a hearing in this matter; and (3) he had the right to be represented by counsel at the hearing.

Mr.Abramson did not exercise his right to the split sample testing. (COMAR 09.10.03.09 H 1, 2, & 3)

The Stewards held a hearing on December 16, 2017. Mr. Abramson waived his right to legal counsel.

Based upon the evidence before them, the Stewards find the following:

  1. Dothat Dance”, did carry methocarbamol, in its system when it finished second in the ninth race at Laurel Park on November 23, 2017, a violation under COMAR 09.10.03.04, Section C;
  2. Noah Abramson, as trainer, was the absolute insurer of, and responsible for, the condition of “Dothat Dance” at the time the horse ran (Sections D, E & F)

Based upon the foregoing, and in accordance with COMAR 09.10.03.04, Stewards hereby order that:

Trainer Noah Abramson be fined five hundred dollars ($500.00). 09.10.01.45 V (1) (d)

A separate hearing was held concerning the Multiple Medication Violation Point System

Trainer Noah Abramson be accessed one-half (1/2) point.

December 16, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-200 The below listed licensees have been fined for failure to have the 2017-18 license badges
they had been issued by the Maryland Racing Commission. [COMAR 09.10.04.11, 'C.]

  • CARLESIMO, Bernard $5.00
  • AUGUSTI, Nikolas $5.00
  • MCBRIDE, Susan $5.00
  • HERNANDEZ-AGUIRRE, Martin $5.00
  • ERRICO, Con $5.00
  • PEREZ, Xavier $5.00
  • SCHULTZ, Lindsay $5.00
  • FOWLER, Jr., Paul $5.00
  • HERRERA, Jasmin $5.00
  • SANCHEZ, Francisco $5.00
  • CARABALLO, Jose $5.00
  • MCDONALD, Jermane $5.00
  • OSORIO, Nelson $5.00
  • BARAJAS, Judith $5.00
  • HESS, Jacob $5.00
  • EPPS, Lewis $5.00
  • WALLACE, Anthony $5.00
  • DUFFY, Katherine $5.00

December 16, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-201 Trainer, Kristan Close is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
for not having the colors for “Steve Said Don’t”, entered to run in the third race at Laurel Park on December 15, 2017, after receiving a warning on (10/27/2017 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

December 18, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-202 On December 15, 2017, the Stewards received notice from Truesdail Laboratories, Inc. that blood sample #15937, dated November 24, 2017, contained the drugs flunixin at 6.04+-0.64 ng/ml and phenylbutazone
at 0.7 mg/ml which, in combination, is in excess of the accepted threshold level of 3.0 flunixin and 0.3 phenylbutazone established by the MRC for this combination. See COMAR 09.10.03.01. The Stewards, having established that blood sample #15937 was taken from the horse “She’s Got a Shot”, owned by Daniel Heim and trained by Jeremiah O’Dwyer, following the running of the second race at Laurel Park on November 24, 2017. The Stewards notified Mr. O’Dwyer that: (1) the presence of flunixin and phenylbutazone in the system of “She’s Got a Shot” at the time the horse ran constituted a violation under COMAR 09.10.03.04 Drug Prohibition - Horses; (2) he had the right to have the split sample tested by an independent laboratory prior to the Stewards conducting a hearing in this matter; and (3) he had the right to be represented by counsel at the hearing.

The Stewards held a hearing on December 17, 2017, wherein Mr. O’Dwyer waived his right to legal counsel and a split sample.

Based upon the evidence before them, the Stewards find the following:

  1. She’s Got a Shot” did carry flunixin and phenylbutazone, in its system when it finished first in the second race race at Laurel Park on November 24, 2017, a violation under COMAR 09.10.03.04,C;
  2. Jeremiah O’Dwyer, as trainer, was the absolute insurer of, and responsible for, the condition of “She’s Got a Shot” at the time the horse ran (Sections D & E);

Based upon the foregoing, the Stewards hereby order that:

Trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer, be fined in the amount of Five Hundred dollars ($500.).

A separate hearing was held concerning the Multiple Medication Violation Point System

Trainer Jeremiah O’Dwyer be accessed one-half (1/2) point.
.
[COMAR 09.10.03.02 C]

December 18, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-203 Jockey, Douglas Lafrance, Jr. having been duly notified to appear before the Stewards and having failed to appear, is hereby suspended pending his appearance.
On December 16, 2017, Mr. Lafrance was requested to deliver a urine sample by the MRC Investigators. The specimen he rendered tested positive for cocaine.
COMAR 09.10.03.05 A(1)(a)(i).

December 30, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-204 In the matter of Trainer Anthony Aguirre, regarding the Stewards Rulings #17-147 and #17-150.

On November 30, 2017, the appeal of trainer Anthony Aguirre was heard before the Maryland Racing Commission. The findings of the case are as follows;

  1. The fine of five hundred dollars ($500.) shall be rescinded.
  2. Trainer Aguirre will receive one-half (1/2) Multiple Medication Points.
  3. The horse “Puturseatbelton”, be disqualified from the fourth race on June 23, 2017 at Laurel Park.
  4. The Horsemen’s Bookkeeper redistribute all purse monies for that race in accordance
    with the following order:

OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH

1st Came Back
2nd It’s a Plane
3rd Political Farce
4th Cue
5th Winter Springs
6th Bay Bridge
7th My Vet’s a Genius
8th Classic Wildcat
9th Flash Heart
10th Kitty Fredo
11th Put It Back Jack

Puturseatbelton- unplaced

December 23, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-205 Trainer, Efrain Miranda is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
for not having the colors for “Mad Bum”, entered to run in the sixth race at Laurel Park on December 22, 2017, after receiving a warning on (11/26/2017 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

December 22, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-206 Trainer, Janet Polachek is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
for not having the colors for “Garden Games”, entered to run in the sixth race at Laurel Park on December 18, 2017, after receiving a warning on (11/05/2017 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

December 23, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-207 Stable employee, Richard Jeffries is fined $25.00
for smoking under a shed row at Laurel Park on December 11, 2017.
[Violation under COMAR 09.10.04.18 Smoking.]

December 28, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-208 Trainer, Timothy Grams is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
for not having the colors for “Took Over”, entered to run in the fourth race at Laurel Park on December 26, 2017, after receiving a warning on (12/02/2017 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

December 30, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-209 In the matter of the eighth race at Laurel Park on September 15, 2017;

On December 29, 2017 trainer Hugh McMahon withdrew his appeal with the Maryland Racing Commission on behalf Winner Circle Partners XII. The 8th race from September 15, 2017 is now declared official.

The purse monies affected by the dispute are to be released by the Horsemen's Bookkeeper.

December 30, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-210 Trainer, Anthony Rideout, II is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
for not having the colors for “Big Bad Dude”, entered to run in the fifth race at Laurel Park on December 29, 2017, after receiving a warning on (11/13/2017 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

December 31, 2017 - Laurel Park
#17-211 Trainer, Michael Pino, is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00)
for not having the colors for “Bridget’s Big Luvy”, entered to run in the sixth race at Laurel Park on December 30, 2017, after receiving a warning on (12/23/2017 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]