In the rulings published April 12 on the website of the International Association of Racing Commissioners, Monmouth Park Managers have issued a $500 fine and 15-day suspension to trainers Pat McBurney and Miguel Penaloza for drugging their horses during a meeting here in 2021. The two suspensions of coaches will last from May 7-21.
McBurney has been quoted for Nova Supersport , a horse he also owns, tested positive for 3-hydroxylidocaine, a metabolite of lidocaine, in the 13th race on August 21, a race declared a no-two worth $30,000. She was disqualified, resulting in forfeiture of $18,000 in race earnings, the ruling stated. She won the race as favorites.
Trained by Penaloza Lil Miss Hotshot , who finished second in the $12,500 claim on June 5, revealed the prohibited presence of dexamethosone in her post-race sample. Last June, Junior Orantes owned Lil Miss Hotshot, who was eliminated from second and last place. She went away at 5-1.
Lidocaine is a local anesthetic used in equine medicine and is available over-the-counter for humans in analgesic products. Dexamethasone is an anti-inflammatory agent. According to the ARCI, lidocaine is a class 2 drug in penalty category B, while dexamethasone is a group 4 drug in penalty category C.
The dexamethasone violation is one of the most common drug violations.
New Jersey administrators regularly order the suspension to coincide with the start of the next meeting at Monmouth Park, which runs from spring through fall.
