The Ohio State Racing Commission has confirmed it is investigating a Nov. 19 incident at Beulah Park in which the track identifier failed to discover before the fourth race a different horse than was entered by trainer owner/trainer Enzo Canelo ran and crossed the wire first.
Canelo entered a horse named Valid Action in the race, but another horse, Purdy Tricky, was the one that wound up running in and winning the $3,100 event for $2,500 claimers. "Valid Action" paid $8.60 to win.
Canelo was listed as the owner and trainer of Valid Action, a 9-year-old gelding, as of the Nov. 19 race. The Noactor gelding, who has a record of 13-14-13 from 66 starts, was previously owned and trained by Shane Spiess.
Stakes-placed Purdy Tricky is still listed as owned and trained by Spiess. The 10-year-old gelding holds a record of 15-11-17 from 92 starts. Before the Beulah Park race, both horses ran unplaced in $4,000 claiming contests at Pinnacle Race Course in Michigan in early November.
Canelo has saddled 56 winners from 523 runners and has earned $531,513 during his four-year career. At Beulah Park this year, he has had 16 winners from 103 starters for earnings of $69,103.
During a hearing the morning of Nov. 26, OSRC officials met with the Beulah Park stewards to discuss the investigation. After the hearing, OSRC executive secretary Sam Zonak said no decision was issued by the stewards.
The investigation, first reported by Daily Racing Form earlier in the week of Nov. 24, could be wrapped up and a verdict given by the stewards by Dec. 1, Zonak said.
In June 2003, the OSRC investigated a race in which the wrong horse competed and finished last as the favorite at River Downs. Officials determined it was a mistake with no fraudulent intent.
In that race, a $5,000 claiming event, Sing High Sing Low was listed as number 12 in the program, but it was actually the maiden Mountain Of Light that competed and finished last as the slight betting favorite.
