The 2016 Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up Masochistic is set to be disqualified from that placing and the accompanying $255,000 of purse money, according to the Daily Racing Form, after a pair of tests confirmed the presence of the steroid stanozolol in the horse's system. Trainer Ron Ellis acknowledged that he had given the steroid, which is legal in California, to Masochistic, 68 days ahead of the Breeders' Cup, within the recommended withdrawal period of 60 days.
“It wasn't hidden. It was fully disclosed with the state, as required,” said Ellis, who gave Masochistic's small size and difficulty maintaining weight as the reasons for the steroid's administration. “The amount is very, very small, but it doesn't matter. Just having a presence is enough.”
Ellis reported that each lab had found less than 200 picograms of stanozolol in Masochistic's blood on race day. Additionally, Ellis said that Masochistic had been subject to out-of-competition testing three times prior to the Breeders' Cup, and that he had been informed only on Nov. 2, three days prior to the race, that minute amounts of the steroid had been found. Breeders' Cup and the CHRB did not require Ellis to scratch the horse. Since the last test had occurred eight days before the race and showed a very small amount, Ellis was 90 percent certain that the drug would clear the horse's system.
“I apologize to the Breeders' Cup and the racing industry for this unfortunate event,” Ellis said.
As per California rules, Ellis appears to have notified California officials that he had given Masochistic the steroid, which required the horse be placed on the veterinarian's list for 60 days. The horse's entry on the list on Aug. 29 of this year was not his first appearance on the list which was attributed to “medication”; he was also placed on the list on May 2 and April 3 of this year, as well as on April 25, 2015.
Masochistic's other starts this year include a win in the G2 Pat O'Brien Aug. 27 and in an allowance optional claiming contest July 8. He also won the G1 Triple Bend on June 27, 2015, following a victory in the the G2 Kona Gold April 11, 2015.
The list does not specify the type of medication administered for any of those entries.
According to language in the Breeders' Cup Horsemen's Information guide, a first violation “of the anabolic steroid rule in effect where the race is conducted” may result in “the horse's trainer and all horses directly or indirectly under that trainer's care” being ineligible to participate in the following year's Breeders' Cup.
A spokesman for the Breeders' Cup declined comment on the situation Monday night, indicating the organization is awaiting adjudication by the CHRB.
The California Horse Racing Board released the following statement:
“Pursuant to CHRB Rule 1589.5, the CHRB has filed a complaint asking the Santa Anita stewards to disqualify Masochistic from his second-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and redistribute his share of the purse ($255,000) based on positive test findings for the anabolic steroid stanozolol.
“On November 5, 2016, Masochistic, trained by Ron Ellis, finished second in the sixth race at Santa Anita Park (the Breeders' Cup Sprint). Post-race blood and urine samples taken from Masochistic were analyzed by the Maddy Laboratory at U.C. Davis and found to contain the Class 3 drug stanozolol and its metabolite 16-hydroxy stanozolol. Split-sample results received from Industrial Laboratory on December 16 confirmed the presence of stanozolol and/or its metabolite 16-hydroxy stanozolol in both blood and urine samples. Accordingly, a hearing to disqualify Masochistic and redistribute the purse is scheduled with the stewards at Santa Anita Park on December 30, 2016.
“The CHRB investigation into this matter is ongoing.”
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