Shang DQ'd from 2019 Iowa Derby Second, Asmussen Fined

Shang has been disqualified from his runner-up finish in the 2019 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows after testing positive for the beta-blocker Atenolol, according to a stewards' ruling posted May 26 by the Association of Racing Commissioners International. Trainer Steve Asmussen has been fined the maximum penalty of $1,000 for the drug positive.

Atenolol is typically used to treat high blood pressure or prevent angina and improve survival after a heart attack, according to the National Library of Medicine. It relaxes blood vessels and slows the heart rate to improve blood flow and decrease blood pressure. The ARCI classifies Atenolol as a Class 3, Penalty B drug.

A report from the Industrial Laboratories Company, Inc. in Wheat Ridge, Colo., stated that 1.99 ng/ml of Atenolol were found in a urine sample taken from Shang after the July 5, 2019 Iowa Derby. 

Asmussen, who trains the colt for Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt, chose to send his split sample to a referee laboratory. The University of California Davis confirmed the split sample and showed Atenolol in urine at 1.2 ng/ml and in serum at 12 pg/ml. A DNA test was received Dec. 17 and on Jan. 22, UC Davis confirmed the sample containing Atenolol belonged to Shang.

The ruling notes there is no acceptable level for Atenolol in any sample, as there is no screening limit.

Prairie Meadows stewards did not suspend Asmussen, citing mitigating factors that the amount of Atenolol found in Shang was extremely low and that there was substantial persuasive evidence provided showing Atenolol can be an environmental substance.

"The board feels the contamination most likely came from a person closely associated with the horse, and not from the local water," the ruling read. "Mr. Asmussen feels prohibiting persons who are caring for his horses from urinating in stalls is 'a practice that is impossible to stop.'"

The ruling added: "Although it is likely that the horse carried the drug in his system due to an inadvertent exposure, he nonetheless carried the drug in his system which necessitates the disqualification to ensure the integrity of racing, and to instill confidence in the betting public."

It also noted Asmussen is the absolute insurer of the horse entered and responsible for the horse's condition.

Asmussen and his assistant Darren Fleming attended a May 15 hearing via teleconference. Through legal counsel, Clark Brewster, Asmussen provided evidence as to the potential cause of the positive, but did not dispute the test result, according to the posted ruling.

The ruling also cited aggravating factors that led to the maximum administrative penalty of $1,000, such as Asmussen's "extensive medication violation history" and "the fact that although much of the evidence provided purported to show Atenolol to be in the local water, there was not a single additional positive test for Atenolol the entire year."

The recommended penalty for Atenolol is a 15-day suspension absent mitigating circumstances, up to a 60-day suspension if there are aggravating factors. The administrative penalty is a minimum fine of $500 absent mitigating circumstances, and a maximum of $1,000 if there are aggravating factors.     

In addition to Shang being disqualified from his Iowa Derby runner-up finish (he crossed the wire third and was moved up after Winning Number was demoted from first to third for interference), his earned purse money of $49,700 from the race is forfeited. He was also placed on the veterinarian's list and must pass a commission-approved vet exam before he is eligible to run.

Shang did not run again in 2019 following the Iowa Derby, but has run four times this year. He returned Jan. 10 to win an allowance race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and finished second in the Feb. 29 Dixie Poker Ace Stakes, also at Fair Grounds. He was second last out in an April 19 allowance at Oaklawn Park.