Autrey fined $12,500 for drug positives

Cody Autrey, one of the leading trainers at Lone Star Park this summer, has been fined $12,500 and suspended seven days as part of a stipulated agreement with the California Horse Racing Board for two positive tests for the banned medication guanabenz found in his starters at Del Mar last summer.

Autrey, 28, was suspended for 30 days, but had 23 days stayed in the event that he does not have a violation for a medication in classes 1, 2, or 3 until July 6, 2009. Autrey's seven-day suspension began Monday and runs through Sunday. The Lone Star Park-based horses in his care entered for Thursday are listed as trained by Kevin Martin, Autrey's assistant.

Guanabenz, which is listed as a Class 2 medication with high potential to affect performance in racehorses, is used in humans to treat high blood pressure.

The positives were found in postrace tests taken from Peace Pledge, the third-place finisher in a $10,000 claimer on July 18, 2007, and Dunmore, the fifth-place finisher in a $20,000 claimer on July 22, 2007. The horses earned a combined $2,640 in purses.

Autrey had two wins from 26 starters at the 2007 Del Mar meeting.

A settlement also has been reached over a 15-day suspension Autrey drew in Arkansas in April after one of his starters, Camptown King, tested positive for methocarbamol, a muscle relaxant, an official with the Arkansas Racing Commission said Monday.

Camptown King won the second race at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 9, 2008, but was disqualified from the purse earnings. In addition to the suspension, Autrey was fined $500. Methocarbamol is a Class 4 medication.