No Lasix for Social Inclusion in Haskell

Social Inclusion, Rontos Racing Stable's runner who has drawn post position 6 for the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park, will race without the anti-bleeding medication Lasix in the July 27 event.

A 3-year-old by Pioneerof the Nile  , Social Inclusion has raced on Lasix in his past four starts for trainer Manny Azpurua including his last race, a third in the June 7 Woody Stephens Stakes (gr. II); however, the speedy colt will not be treated for the 1 1/8-mile Haskell.

Social Inclusion, who is known to get on edge and washed out before his starts, was declared off Lasix to Florida state veterinarians June 19, as his connections believe the medication could be causing his edgy behavior. Although trainer Manny Azpurua failed to inform the Monmouth racing office of the change when he entered the horse in the Haskell, Azpurua called state steward Steve Pagano the following morning to indicate his intent to run off Lasix.

"Our chief veterinarian (Deborah Lamparter) had a conference call with the trainer's vet and the state vet from Florida and verified that on June 19 (Azpurua) and the vet filled out the paperwork to take the horse off Lasix," Pagano said. "Once you do that, by rule, you can't race a horse on Lasix for 60 days.

"Although the trainer failed to declare that with the entry clerk at time of entry (for the Haskell), Dr. Lamparter feels very strongly that the rule is, the horse can't race on it. We could force them to run the horse on Lasix, but then we'd be breaking the rule ourselves."

The official track program and Daily Racing Form have the 8-1 morning line contender listed as on Lasix, because information from the Haskell entries was cleared for printing shortly after the July 24 draw. The medication change will be announced at Monmouth Park and displayed on the track's video stream to inform on-track and simulcast bettors, Pagano said.

"It'll be on our (video) scroll and will be announced as a change," Pagano said. "The only real mistake was that at time of entry he should have announced it to the entry clerk. We're trying to do the best for the horse and owners and everybody involved."

Owner Ron Sanchez and Azpurua started Social Inclusion without Lasix once before, when he broke his maiden Feb. 22. He began running on the medication March 12 when he smashed the Gulfstream Park record for 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.97. On Lasix, Social Inclusion was third in the Twinspires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I) and the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) before also finishing third in the Woody Stephens.