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August 2018 Thoroughbred Rulings - Maryland Racing Commission

August 2, 2017 - Laurel Park
#18-103 In the matter of stable employee, Erick Rivera-Parilla, subject of Stewards Ruling #18-064, dated
May 13, 2018.

On August 1, 2018, Erick Rivera-Parilla appeared before the Stewards upon the request of HCP Coordinator Jessica Hammond, for consideration of reinstatement to good standing. The HCP coordinator provided the results of drug tests and an evaluation from Adult Personal & Career Counseling indicating that Mr. Rivera-Parilla presently drug free and not a detriment to the best interests of racing. She recommended that he be reinstated to good standing and permitted to return to work subject to the following stipulation:

  1. That Mr. Rivera-Parilla continue in counselling with Mrs. Hammond.
  2. That at the Stewards discretion he submit to drug testing by the HCP Coordinator, the Stewards, or their designated representative. [COMAR 09.10.03.05.].

In light of the above, the Stewards hereby order that Erick Rivera-Parilla be reinstated to good standing subject to the above-stated stipulations.

August 4, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-104 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.]

  • BOSLEY, Patricia $5.00
  • LOPEZ, Gabriel $5.00
  • RIVERA-FELIX, Jonathan $5.00
  • TORRES, Alberto $5.00
  • CORREI, Patricia $5.00
  • LEARY, Kevin $5.00
  • MCDADAE, Lawrence $10.00
  • THOMAS, Michael $10.00
  • LYAPUSTINA, Tais $5.00

(Note: The fines have been paid)

August 12, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-105 Trainer, Gerald Bennett is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for not having the colors for “Dog Soldier”, entered to run in the seventh race at Laurel Park on August 10, 2018, after receiving a warning on (06/08/2018 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

August 16, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-106 Trainer, Donald White is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for not having the colors for “Feisty Madam”, entered to run in the second race at Laurel Park on August 12, 2018, after receiving a warning on (08/11/2018 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

August 16, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-107 Trainer, David Nunn is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for not having the colors for “Zaptuit”, entered to run in the seventh race at Laurel Park on August 12, 2018, after receiving a warning on (07/15/2018 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

August 16, 2017 - Laurel Park
#18-108 In the matter of stable employee, Giovanni Salinas-Melendez, subject of Stewards Ruling #18-046, dated June 30, 2018.

On August 16, 2018, Giovanni Melendez appeared before the Stewards upon the request of HCP Coordinator Jessica Hammond, for consideration of reinstatement to good standing. The HCP coordinator provided the results of drug tests and an evaluation from Adult Personal & Career Counseling indicating that Mr. Melendez presently drug free and not a detriment to the best interests of racing. She recommended that he be reinstated to good standing and permitted to return to work subject to the following stipulation:

  1. That Mr. Melendez continue in counselling with Mrs. Hammond.
  2. That at the Stewards discretion he submit to drug testing by the HCP Coordinator, the Stewards, or their designated representative. [COMAR 09.10.03.05.].

In light of the above, the Stewards hereby order that Giovanni Melendez be reinstated to good standing subject to the above-stated stipulations.

August 17, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-109 In the eighth race, at Laurel Park on August 12, 2018, horse #5 “Lewisfield”, ridden by jockey, Arnaldo Bocachicao was disqualified from first position and placed second. Inside the 1/16th pole, #5 “Lewisfield” drifted out to engage #2 “Laki” and in doing so brushed with #2 “Laki” knocking him off stride.
[Violation under COMAR 09.10.01.50, A (1) d & e, which states in pertinent parts: “A horse may not: (d) Intimidate another horse, or (e) Impede another horse.]

OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH:
1st Laki
2nd Lewisfield

August 17, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-110 In the ninth race, at Laurel Park on August 16, 2018, horse #4 “Union Blues”, ridden by jockey, Luis J. Rodriguez was disqualified from first position and placed second. Inside the 1/8th pole, #4 “Union Blues” under right-handed whipping, came over into the path of #2 “Graves Island” forcing the rider to check sharply to avoid clipping heels.
[Violation under COMAR 09.10.01.50, A (1) b, d & e, which states in pertinent parts: “A horse may not: (b) Cross or weave in front of another horse without sufficient clearance (d) Intimidate another horse, or (e) Impede another horse.]

OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH:
1st Graves Island
2nd Union Blues

August 17, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-111 Trainer, Carlos Milian is fined twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for not having the colors for “Bolara”, entered to run in the first race at Laurel Park on August 16, 2018, after receiving a warning on (06/09/2018 ) for the same offense.
THIS IS A VIOLATION OF: [COMAR 09.10.01.09]

August 18, 2018- Laurel Park
#18-112 Jockey, Luis J. Rodriguez, is suspended three (3) Maryland racing days, August 18, 19 & 24, 2018, for riding the horse “Union Blues” in a careless manner in the ninth race at Laurel Park on August 17, 2018, thereby causing the disqualification of “Union Blues” from first to second position.
COMAR 09.10.01.45 AA(1).

August 18, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-113 Per Order from The Maryland Racing Commission, Jockey, Weston Hamilton, is suspended three (3) Maryland racing days, August 24, 25 & 26, 2018 and fined One thousand dollars ($1,000) for failing to appear for the hearing of May 22, 2018, after being served with a subpoena.
COMAR 09.10.03.03A(13)

August 18, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-114 In the matter of the ninth race at Laurel Park on August 16, 2018, regarding the Stewards decision, Ruling # 18-110.

On August 17, 2018, Trainer Jennifer Shannon filed an appeal with the Maryland Racing Commission. The appeal disputes the Stewards' decision to disqualify "Union Blues”, first place finisher of the ninth race at Laurel Park on August 16, 2018, following a Stewards Inquiry and an objection by jockey Mychel J. Sanchez, the rider of “Graves Island” who finished in second position.

As a result of that appeal, the ninth race on August 16, 2018, is hereby declared in dispute and the following ordered to remain in effect until the dispute has been settled by the Maryland Racing Commission:

  1. Both “Union Blues” and “Graves Island” shall be subject to all penalties attached to the winner of the race [COMAR 09.10.04.15, A(1)]; and
  2. The purse monies affected by the dispute are to be held by the Horsemen's Bookkeeper.

August 18, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-115 Jockey Edwin Gonzalez is fined fifty dollars ($50.) for lodging a frivolous claim of foul following the fourth race at Laurel Park on August 17, 2018.
[Violation of COMAR 09.10.01.45-V (1)]

August 18, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-116 Jockey Edwin Gonzalez is fined fifty dollars ($50.) for failure to appear at the video review after being informed by the Stewards to attend.
[Violation of COMAR 09.10.01.45-H]

August 21, 2018- Laurel Park
#18-117 In the first, at Laurel Park on August 19, 2018, horse #6 “Stillsexyatsixty”, ridden by jockey, Alex Cintron was disqualified from second position and placed third. Inside the 1/16th pole, #6 “Stillsexyatsixty” came out, under left-handed whipping, into the path of #4 “Flashdynamite” ridden by Horacio Karamanos forcing the rider to check sharply to avoid clipping heels.
[Violation under COMAR 09.10.01.50, A (1)a, d & e, which states in pertinent parts: “A horse may not: (a) Carry another horse in or out (d) Intimidate another horse, or (e) Impede another horse.]

OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH:
1st Bodega Bay
2nd Flashdynamite
3rd Stillsexyatsixty

August 21, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-118 Jockey, Alex Cintron, is suspended three (3) Maryland racing days, August 24, 25 & 26, 2018, for riding the horse “Stillsexyatsixty” in a careless manner in the first race at Laurel Park on August 19, 2018, thereby causing the disqualification of “Stillsexyatsixty” from second to third position.
[COMAR 09.10.01.45 AA(2)(c)(d).]

August 23, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-119 Veterinarian Simon Towl is fined Five Hundred dollars ($500.) for failure to follow proper procedure in the administration of Lasix on August 19, 2018.
[Violation of COMAR 09.10.01.45-H]