Churchill Issues Statement on Warrior's Charge Overage

In a statement issued the evening of May 18, Churchill Downs Incorporated responded to news of the positive test for an overage of bute that occurred in the Brad Cox-trained Warrior's Charge  when second in the 2021 Stephen Foster Stakes (G2) at the corporation's Louisville track.

Bute, or phenylbutazone, is a commonly used anti-inflammatory that is permitted therapeutically. State withdrawal guidelines call for it not to be used within 24 hours of a race. 

Churchill Downs stewards issued a $500 fine and a 10-day suspension to dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Cox. The stewards' ruling, issued May 15 and posted May 17 on the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission website, further disqualified Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' Warrior's Charge from the 2021 Stephen Foster. His placement in last resulted in the forfeiture of $115,200 in earnings.

The KHRC-issued sanctions of Cox and the disqualification of Warrior's Charge come nearly 11 months after last year's Stephen Foster.  

"Churchill Downs became aware of the failed drug test involving Warrior's Charge in the 2021 Stephen Foster Stakes with the release of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's Stewards Ruling 22-0069 issued on May 15, 2022," read the statement from CDI. "We take medication overages and drug violations extremely seriously and believe there is no acceptable excuse for not following regulations that are in place in the interest of safety for the horses and protect the integrity of our sport.

"We are in the processes of reviewing the facts involved in this matter and will make further comment and take further action when we are prepared to do so."

KING: Cox Fined, Suspended for Bute Overage in Stephen Foster

The threshold for bute detection in Kentucky is 2 micrograms per milliliter in serum or plasma, according to KHRC online documents. The amount of bute in Warrior's Charge's blood was detected at 2.51. Bute is a Class C violation, trailing Class B and Class A in level of concern.

According to the ruling, Cox is to serve his suspension May 23-June 1. The May 15 ruling stated that "entry of all horses owned or trained by Cox is denied pending transfer to persons acceptable to the stewards."

Cox did not immediately respond to an inquiry regarding who would act as trainer if entries from his existing stable are made during the dates of his suspension.