Kentucky Stewards Fine, Suspend Owner/Trainer Macias

In rulings issued Nov. 13, Kentucky stewards fined owner/trainer Adolfo Macias $500 and suspended him for 90 days for two separate violations. His suspension is from Dec. 1-Feb. 28.

The fine was for his trainee Enraged , who tested positive for dexamethasone after a first-place finish in the second race at Ellis Park July 9. Dexamethasone is a commonly used corticosteroid with a 72-hour recommended withdrawal time before racing in Kentucky.

Macias' 90-day suspension came after a July 28 barn search in which Macias was cited for "possession of injectable medications, hypodermic syringes, and needles 'by a person other than a veterinarian licensed to practice veterinary medicine.'" The barn search took place at Ashwood Training Center near Lexington. 

An Equibase chart from the July 9 race indicates Enraged has been disqualified and placed last of six. He crossed the wire first in the maiden $30,000 contest at odds of 14-1.

After racing against winners in three subsequent starts, Enraged became eligible to again face maidens following his official disqualification from his sole prior victory at Ellis Park. He then won a maiden $20,000 claimer at 4-1 odds at Churchill Downs Sept. 30 for owner William Pribble. From that race, trainer Grant Forster claimed Enraged for owner Team Forster 211.

Macias, who began training in 2005 and runs mostly in Kentucky and Ohio, has trained 127 winners from 1,165 starters.