Trainer Dave Anderson has been suspended for one year after Reach One More tested positive for oxymorphone following his victory in the Aug. 1 Iowa Stallion Stakes at Prairie Meadows Racetrack & Casino.
Oxymorphone is a powerful form of morphine that constitutes a Class 1 violation for the heaviest infractions in racing’s five-class rating system. In addition to the suspension, Anderson was given an administrative penalty of $1,000, and Reach One More was disqualified; his owners must forfeit his $49,761 winner’s share.
Anderson had three business days to appeal. During the hearing, he stated he never had oxymorphone administered and had no knowledge of what caused the positive.
Anderson said he accepted responsibility as trainer, but noted suspensions in other states were four to six months, rather than the year called for under the guidelines set by the Association of Racing Commissioners International.
Anderson also had two horses test positive for oxymorphone in Nebraska, where he has been one of that state’s leading trainers. Those hearings are pending the result of testing the split samples, according to Nebraska stewards.
Reach One More’s disqualification means the top two finishers of the Iowa Stallion Stakes were taken down for drug positives, a first for any race at Prairie Meadows. Earlier, runner-up Sharik was disqualified from second for having traces of trichloromethiazide, a diuretic used to reduce swelling in limbs. Trainer Tony Rengstorf was also fined $500.
Trichloromethiazide is a Class 3 violation for which the guidelines call for disqualification and fine, but no suspension.
The two rulings mean third-place finisher Karl’s Speed Demon stands to be the official winner. Including his Iowa-bred bonus, his earnings from the race would leap from $12,026 to $72,153.
It would also put him in the lead to be the Iowa-bred Horse of the Year, which goes to the horse with the highest earnings, at $154,515. That’s about $1,500 more than defending champion Red Hot N Gold.
