Potts to Appeal 15-Day Suspension From N.J. Stewards
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Joe Labozzetta
Wayne Potts
New Jersey stewards have suspended Wayne Potts, currently the leading trainer by wins at the 2021 Monmouth Park meet, for 15 days because of a flunixin positive in Kentucky Cool discovered after the gelding's June 5 race.
Potts told BloodHorse that he is appealing the decision to the New Jersey Racing Commission.
The regulator also disqualified Kentucky Cool from his victory in that race, a $12,500 claiming race contested as Monmouth's second race. With Paco Lopez aboard, Kentucky Cool prevailed by a neck in the one-mile-and-70-yard test but the 3-year-old son of Americain has been disqualified and placed last. Bruno Schickedanz, the owner of Kentucky Cool for that race, forfeits the $13,200 winner's share of the purse.
As a result, Uncle Ned was declared the winner of the race, giving trainer Katlynn Gutterson her first career victory.
According to the NJRC, a report from Industrial Laboratories identified the presence of flunixin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory sold as Banamine, at 10.1 nanograms per milliliter in the blood sample collected from Kentucky Cool after the race.
As a result, the NJRC will suspend Potts for a period of 15 days, fined him $500, and assigned a half-point under the multiple medication violation standard, pending the appeal.
Potts leads the Monmouth standings at the current meeting with 24 wins from 93 starts. His horses at the Monmouth meet have earned $477,175, which through Aug. 15 ranked ninth at the meet.