NEWS
Mullins allegedly violated detention barn rules
Posted: Sunday, April 05, 2009 4:49 PM
by Ed DeRosa
New York stewards scratched Gato Go Win from the Bay Shore Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Aqueduct after security personnel said they saw trainer Jeff Mullins attempting to administer a substance to the colt before the race.
Joe Mahoney, a spokesman for the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, said that security alleges Mullins brought a syringe into the detention barn.
The Bay Shore was the first leg of an all stakes pick four on Saturday at Aqueduct that included the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1), which Mullins won with I Want Revenge.
“Our stewards are investigating an incident inside NYRA’s detention barn on Saturday afternoon,” Mahoney said. “NYRA security personnel advised the stewards that Mr. Mullins was observed attempting to administer an over-the-counter product called Air Power to [Gato Go Win] in the security barn. He had also apparently taken a syringe into the security barn.
“As a result, the stewards directed that Gato Go Win be scratched, and they will be conferring on this later in the coming week … most likely Wednesday.”
Mullins trains Gato Go Win for a partnership of Dean De Renzo, Randy Hartley, Joey Platts, and William Sims. He trains I Want Revenge for a partnership of IEAH Stables, David Lanzman, Puglisi Racing, and Charles Winner. IEAH, Puglisi, and Winner all bought into the Stephen Got Even colt following his 8½-length victory in the Gotham Stakes (G3) in March.
“There was no incident involving I Want Revenge, who was under surveillance in the security barn prior to racing,” Mahoney said of the Wood Memorial winner.
Mullins’s cell phone went directly to voicemail during repeated attempts to reach him for comment on Sunday afternoon.
Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, said that he had heard that a possible infraction occurred with Mullins on the Wood Memorial undercard but that he did not know enough about the situation to comment.
“Naturally, anytime you hear about a scratch or violation it’s disturbing,” Iavarone said. “I can’t make any judgments. I just hope that whatever story evolves doesn’t take away from the performance of I Want Revenge. I went through this last year [with Big Brown and trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.], and it’s disturbing to me again that attention could be taken away from the horse.”
Iavarone said that part of IEAH’s agreement with Lanzman includes a clause that Lanzman would retain all decisions related to the connections of I Want Revenge (pertaining to trainer and jockey) unless the colt finishes out of the money in multiple races.
Like Dutrow, Mullins is no stranger to rules violations. In spring 2008, he served a 20-day suspension from the California Horse Racing Board for use of the Class 2 drug mepivicane, and at least one of his horses tested positive for excessive levels of total carbon dioxide in 2005. In the aftermath of his troubles in 2005, Mullins lashed out against the industry and was quoted in the Los Angeles Times as having attributed his troubles to horseplayers “crying about losing a $2 bet.
“If you bet on horses, I would call you an idiot,” the Times quoted the trainer as saying.
Mullins had another total carbon dioxide violation in summer 2008.
Mahoney said that Mullins’s presence in the detention barn itself was not a violation. He added that any attempt to administer something to a horse and possession of a syringe would be violations.
Air Power is an over-the-counter cough formula manufactured by Finish Line. The company’s website states that Air Power will stop a horse’s cough all day and “that nothing manufactured and sold by Finish Line will test positive in any race or show jurisdiction. …”
“If a horse needs Air Power to get to the finish line on race day, then we have a problem with that,” Mahoney said. “We have one of the most aggressive drug-testing programs in the entire nation and we will continue to be aggressive in our watchdog role because of the emphasis we place on integrity.”
Ed DeRosa is news editor of Thoroughbred Times
