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March 2018 Thoroughbred Rulings - Maryland Racing Commission

March 3, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-037 Trainer, Anthony Farrior, is fined Two Hundred dollars ($200.00)
for having an unlicensed individual in his employment.
COMAR 09.10.01.57 S

March 10, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-038 In the sixth race, at Laurel Park on March 9, 2018, horse #5 “Oh So Lovely”, ridden by jockey, Angel Cruz was disqualified
from second position and placed third. Inside the 1/16th pole, #5 “Oh So Lovely” under right-handed whipping, came over into the path of #10 “Sticksandbricks” forcing the rider to check sharply to avoid clipping heels and in the process lost his stirrups.
[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 Gracies Bandit
2nd Sticksandbricks
3rd Oh So Lovely

March 10, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-039 In the seventh race, at Laurel Park on March 9, 2018, horse #6 “Birdies Honor”, ridden by jockey, Taylor Hole was disqualified
from second position and placed fourth. Soon after the start, #3 “Three Over Deuces”, #4 “Huyana” and #5 “Takedown” exchanged bumps, #6 “Birdies Honor” angles in soon after the start into the path of #5 “Takedown” forcing him into #4 “Huyana” forcing that rider to check his horse.
[Violation under COMAR 09.10.01.50, A (1)b & e , which states in pertinent parts: “A horse may not: (b) Cross or weave in front of another horse without sufficient clearance or (e) Impede another horse.]

OFFICIAL ORDER OF FINISH:
1st Three Over Deuces
2nd Takedown
3rd Huyana
4th Birdies Honor

March 11, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-040 Jockey, Angel Cruz, is suspended three (3) Maryland racing days
,March 16, 17 & 18, 2018, for riding the horse “Oh So Lovely” in a careless manner in the sixth race at Laurel Park on March 9, 2018, thereby causing the disqualification of “Oh So Lovely” from second to third position.
COMAR 09.10.01.45 AA(1).

March 11, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-041 In the matter of the seventh race at Laurel Park on March 9, 2018, regarding the Stewards decision, Ruling # 18-039.

On March 10, 2018 owner, Sam Passero filed an appeal with the Maryland Racing Commission. The appeal disputes the Stewards' decision to disqualify "Birdies Honor”, second place finisher of the seventh race at Laurel Park on March 9, 2018, following an objection by jockey Edwin Gonzalez the rider of “Huyana” who finished in fourth position.

As a result of that appeal, the seventh race on March 9, 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:

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

March 16, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-042 In the matter of Apprentice jockey Carlos Carrasco
, having provided all documentation pertinent to his injury of May 28, 2017, Apprentice jockey Carrasco is hereby granted eighty-eight (88) days of extension to his apprentice certificate, which would have expired on March 16, 2018. This extension will now continue his apprentice allowances starting March 17, 2018 thru June 12, 2018.
[ COMAR 09.10.01.23 4(a)(i)(b)(c) ]

March 17, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-043 On October 27, 2017, the Stewards received notice from the Truesdail Laboratories, Inc. that urine sample #15185, dated October 13, 2017, contained the drug cocaine and its metabolites, benzoylecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester
which are not on the approved list of Controlled Therapeutic Substances for the Maryland Racing Commission. The Stewards established that urine sample #15185 was taken from the horse “Abdaar”, owned by Final Turn Racing Stable, LLC and trained by David Jacobson, following the running of the fifth race at Laurel Park on October 13, 2017. The Stewards notified Mr. Jacobson that:

  1. the presence of cocaine in the system of “Abdaar” 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. Jacobson did exercise his right to the split sample testing. (COMAR 09.10.03.09 H 1, 2, & 3)
Upon receiving conformation from University of California, Davis that cocaine, benzolecgonine and ecgonine methyl ester were present in sample #15185 dated October 13, 2017, the Stewards set a hearing regarding this result.

A hearing was held via conference call on March 8, 2018. Mr. Jacobson was on the call along with his attorney, Clark Brewster and witness, Dr. Clara Fengers, DVM.

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

  1. Abdaar” did carry cocaine in its system when it finished first in the fifth race at Laurel Park on October 13, 2017, a violation under COMAR 09.10.03.04, Section C;
  2. David Jacobson, as trainer, was the absolute insurer of, and responsible for, the condition of “Abdaar” at the time the horse ran (Sections D & F) ;
  3. A horse found to have carried a drug in its body during a race may be disqualified and the purse monies earned by that horse redistributed and
  4. An individual found to have violated these Regulations may be subject to a fine issued by the Stewards of up to $2,500 and a suspension of any license issued by the Maryland Racing Commission of up to 360 days. COMAR 09.10.03.02, Section A.

The Stewards hereby order that:

  1. Because of mitigating circumstances, Trainer David Jacobson not be fined or suspended.
  2. Mr. Jacobson not be accessed any MMV points
  3. The horse “Abdaar”, be disqualified from the fifth race on October 13, 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 Deal Driven
2nd Squashville
3rd Offlee Brawn
4th Bull Ensign
5th Stillburnin
6th Sir Luca Richard
7th Three Beans

Abdaar- unplaced

March 18, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-044 Owner, Shelley Stoneking, having failed to pay a fee
in the amount of six hundred and eighty-eight dollars ($688.00), to the Maryland Thoroughbred Purse Account, is hereby precluded from participating in racing until said fee has been paid.
[COMAR 09.10.01.59, G.]

March 24, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-045 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.]

  • MAGDALENO, Francisco $5.00
  • GILETTE, Bryan III $5.00
  • COLLINS, Jennifer $5.00
  • OBESO, James $5.00
  • LOPEZ-SANCHEZ, Antonio $5.00
  • PIZARRO-MILLAN, Luis $5.00
  • JOHNSON, Betty $5.00
  • ZUNO-GARCIA, Francisco $5.00
  • BENSON, Eric $5.00
  • TURNER, Gordon $5.00

(Note: The fines have been paid)

March 24, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-046 In the matter of stable employee Joshua Kauffman:
On March 24, 2018 Mr .Kauffman was requested to deliver a urine sample by the MRC Investigators. The specimen he rendered tested positive for marijuana and methamphetamine.
COMAR 09.10.03.05 A(1)(a)(i).

A hearing was held on March 24, 2018. Mr. Kauffman appeared in the absence of counsel and waived his right thereto. Based upon the testimony and evidence presented at the hearing, the Stewards found Joshua Kauffman in violation of COMAR 09.10.03.05 Drug Prohibition-Humans.

Accordingly, the Stewards hereby order:

  1. That the license issued to Joshua Kauffman be suspended until such time as he has been
    professionally evaluated [COMAR 09.10.03.05, F(1)].
  2. That while he is under suspension, Mr. Kauffman be denied the privileges of all the grounds
    under the jurisdiction of the Maryland Racing Commission.

[COMAR 09.10.01.45, 'Y (1) (a).]

March 29, 2018 - Laurel Park
#18-047 On March 24, 2018, the Stewards received notice from Truesdail Laboratories, Inc., that blood sample #16860
, dated March 9, 2018, contained the drug methocarbamol at a level of 15.1+- 0.1 ng/ml, which is in excess of the accepted threshold level of 1 ng/ml of plasma. The Stewards, have established that blood sample #16860 was taken from the horse “Patriotic Quest”, owned and trained by Annette M. Eubanks, following the running of the third race at Laurel Park on March 9, 2018. The Stewards notified Mrs. Eubanks that:

  1. the presence of methocarbamol at this level in the system of “Patriotic Quest” at the time the horse ran constituted a violation under COMAR 09.10.03.04 Drug Prohibition - Horses;
  2. she 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. she had the right to be represented by counsel at the hearing.

Mrs. Eubanks did not exercise her right to the split sample testing. (COMAR 09.10.03.09 H 1, 2, & 3)

The Stewards held a hearing on March 29, 2018. Mrs. Eubanks waived her right to legal counsel.

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

  1. Patriotic Quest”, did carry methocarbamol, in its system when it finished first in the third race at Laurel Park on March 9, 2018, a violation under COMAR 09.10.03.04, Section C;
  2. Annette M. Eubanks, as trainer, was the absolute insurer of, and responsible for, the condition of “Patriotic Quest” 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 Annette M. Eubanks 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 Annette M. Eubanks be accessed one-half (1/2) point.