Trainers Vazquez, Garcia banished from Maryland
Feb 4, 2015 18:10:10 GMT -5
Post by cait on Feb 4, 2015 18:10:10 GMT -5
good news! many ML 20-1 shots going off at 2-1 and winning for these guys - everyone knew! good move by the MJC - and hopefully good for the horses - but that's doubtful
Maryland Jockey Club officials have notified trainers Hector Garcia and Juan C. Vazquez that they no longer will be able to race at Laurel Park or Pimlico and have given them two weeks to remove their horses from the Pimlico backstretch.
The ban comes in response to four recent medication positives that Garcia has had. Three of the offenses were for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, and the other was for the tranquilizer xylazine. Garcia has been suspended for 13 months, beginning Thursday, for the infractions.
Garcia took over as the trainer of Vazquez’s stable in November when Vazquez began a 90-day suspension for being the instigator in an altercation with jockey Trevor McCarthy near the Delaware Park winner’s circle June 23.
Vazquez, who has 40 stalls at Pimlico, is scheduled to complete his suspension next week.
“Basically, we’ve told Hector and Juan they are no longer welcome here,” said Sal Sinatra, general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club. “It’s about the integrity of the game. People are betting on these races. Horsemen are running against them. It’s not right.”
Three of the Garcia horses won the races in which they tested positive, and the other horse finished second. Today’s Man, who won at Laurel on Dec. 6; Winning Player, who won Dec. 19; and Conflicting Report, who finished second Jan. 17, tested positive for stanozolol, which can build muscle mass by maintaining a horse’s appetite.
Sherriffs Moon, who won Dec. 26, tested positive for xylazine. Under Maryland’s testing protocols, winners are tested far more often than horses who place, show, or finish out of the money.
According to Maryland Jockey Club officials, the attending veterinarian for the Vazquez/Garcia stable is Kaelynn Moury, Vazquez’s wife.
“There are just too many interruptions with this whole thing,” Sinatra said. “Juan transfers the horses to Hector, who gets the positives, and now Juan will be back from suspension, and the horses would go back under his name.”
Vazquez did not return a Wednesday phone call seeking comment.
Vazquez has had a number of medication violations over the years. He was suspended 21 days in 2012 when three horses he started at Delaware Park tested positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone. He also had a Boldenone positive at Gulfstream Park in 2012.
In 2010, Vazquez had two horses test positive at Philadelphia Park, one for capsaicin, an active ingredient in chili powder, and the other for capsaicin and methylprednisone, a corticosteroid.
Trainers A. Ferris Allen and Scott Lake also were suspended for positive stanazolol tests this week, but no further action will be taken against them, according to Sinatra.
Ferris has been suspended 15 days for his violation. Lake has been suspended 60 days for two positives. In a ruling, the Laurel Park stewards noted that Lake also had a horse test positive for stanozolol in mid-2014 in Pennsylvania.
Sinatra was scheduled to meet with Maryland Jockey Club veterinarians Wednesday to discuss the positives.
“I want them to know that if we have another rash of positives, we may ask the vets involved to leave,” Sinatra said.
Maryland Jockey Club officials have notified trainers Hector Garcia and Juan C. Vazquez that they no longer will be able to race at Laurel Park or Pimlico and have given them two weeks to remove their horses from the Pimlico backstretch.
The ban comes in response to four recent medication positives that Garcia has had. Three of the offenses were for the anabolic steroid stanozolol, and the other was for the tranquilizer xylazine. Garcia has been suspended for 13 months, beginning Thursday, for the infractions.
Garcia took over as the trainer of Vazquez’s stable in November when Vazquez began a 90-day suspension for being the instigator in an altercation with jockey Trevor McCarthy near the Delaware Park winner’s circle June 23.
Vazquez, who has 40 stalls at Pimlico, is scheduled to complete his suspension next week.
“Basically, we’ve told Hector and Juan they are no longer welcome here,” said Sal Sinatra, general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club. “It’s about the integrity of the game. People are betting on these races. Horsemen are running against them. It’s not right.”
Three of the Garcia horses won the races in which they tested positive, and the other horse finished second. Today’s Man, who won at Laurel on Dec. 6; Winning Player, who won Dec. 19; and Conflicting Report, who finished second Jan. 17, tested positive for stanozolol, which can build muscle mass by maintaining a horse’s appetite.
Sherriffs Moon, who won Dec. 26, tested positive for xylazine. Under Maryland’s testing protocols, winners are tested far more often than horses who place, show, or finish out of the money.
According to Maryland Jockey Club officials, the attending veterinarian for the Vazquez/Garcia stable is Kaelynn Moury, Vazquez’s wife.
“There are just too many interruptions with this whole thing,” Sinatra said. “Juan transfers the horses to Hector, who gets the positives, and now Juan will be back from suspension, and the horses would go back under his name.”
Vazquez did not return a Wednesday phone call seeking comment.
Vazquez has had a number of medication violations over the years. He was suspended 21 days in 2012 when three horses he started at Delaware Park tested positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone. He also had a Boldenone positive at Gulfstream Park in 2012.
In 2010, Vazquez had two horses test positive at Philadelphia Park, one for capsaicin, an active ingredient in chili powder, and the other for capsaicin and methylprednisone, a corticosteroid.
Trainers A. Ferris Allen and Scott Lake also were suspended for positive stanazolol tests this week, but no further action will be taken against them, according to Sinatra.
Ferris has been suspended 15 days for his violation. Lake has been suspended 60 days for two positives. In a ruling, the Laurel Park stewards noted that Lake also had a horse test positive for stanozolol in mid-2014 in Pennsylvania.
Sinatra was scheduled to meet with Maryland Jockey Club veterinarians Wednesday to discuss the positives.
“I want them to know that if we have another rash of positives, we may ask the vets involved to leave,” Sinatra said.