Pletcher Runner Again Found Positive in New York

One month after the New York State Gaming Commission handed trainer Todd Pletcher a fine and suspension for a medication violation after Forte won the 2022 Hopeful Stakes (G1), another infraction involving a Pletcher runner was reported on the NYSGC website.

The Paulick Report was first to report on the latest issue for Pletcher: a 14-day suspension, $2,000 fine, and the disqualification of Capensis  from a sixth-place finish July 30 at Saratoga Race Course that was posted on its website June 11.

The NYSGC report came one day after Pletcher's stable produced high-end performances in the Belmont Stakes (G1) and its undercard at Belmont Park in New York. The Pletcher barn finished second and third in the Belmont Stakes with Forte  and Tapit Trice , respectively, won the Manhattan Stakes (G1T) with Up to the Mark , won the Poker Stakes (G3T) with Emmanuel , finished fourth with Charge It  in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and won the day's opener, a maiden special weight, with Love to Shop .

The NYSGC notice said it had "received a report from the New York Drug Testing and Research program that a race-day sample taken from the horse 'Capensis' had the substance Phenylbutazone present at a concentration, including an assessment of the measurement uncertainty and imprecision of the quantitative threshold, in excess of 0.3 mcg/ml in plasma...."

The same report says a stay of suspension was already granted to Pletcher, who is appealing. The son of Tapit   is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Robert V. LaPenta, Gainesway Stable, Winchell Thoroughbreds, and Stonestreet Stables.

On May 11, five days after the Kentucky Derby, the NYSGC publicly revealed for the first time Forte was disqualified from his win of the Sept. 5 Hopeful Stakes (G1) at Saratoga for a finding of Meloxicam. Pletcher was suspended 10 days and fined $1,000. Like the Capensis case, a stay of suspension was imposed pending appeal. Pletcher said at the time his stable never gives Meloxicam to its horses.

The Forte ruling was disclosed after he was scratched from the Kentucky Derby (G1) by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission on the advice of a state-employed veterinarian for what was diagnosed as a sore foot. Pletcher trainees Tapit Trice  and Kingsbarns  finished seventh and 14th, respectively, in the Derby. Forte is owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, who also teamed to win the Manhattan with Up to the Mark.

Both New York findings stem from the alleged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories.

The disqualification of Capensis came in his second career start following a debut win. He hasn't raced since winning the Sept. 6 Virginia Derby (G3T) in his next outing.

Previous reporting disclosed Pletcher is also facing three medication infractions in Florida, all of them pending. The cases involve Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners' Ari Gold  and Team Valor International's Ok Boomer , both of whom won races Dec. 10 at Gulfstream Park, and Six Minus , who captured an allowance optional claiming race Feb. 3 at the track for Repole Stable, Pletcher, and his father J. J. Pletcher.