by Jeff Lowe

Trainer Bruce Levine’s horses at Monmouth Park tested negative for blood-doping agents, said Frank Zanzuccki, executive director of the New Jersey Racing Commission.

The commission drew blood samples from Levine’s 41 horses at Monmouth last week as part of an out-of-competition testing program designed to detect the administration of EPO or other blood-doping agents.

Levine’s starters are winning at a 49.2% rate during the current Monmouth meet, and the trainer leads the standings with 29 wins, 16 more than Edwin Broome has in second.

Zanzuccki said the commission randomly selected Levine’s horses for testing. He was the first trainer subjected to out-of-competition testing during the current Monmouth meet.

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer