Barocio agrees to 45-day suspension with HISA

Trainer Librado Barocio, whose stable includes Lovesick Blues, the 2025 California-bred Horse of the Year, has agreed to a 45-day suspension with the Horseracing Safety and Integrity Authority for possession of four syringes at his Santa Anita stable in April.

Barocio did not dispute the findings made by HISA and waived rights to a hearing, according to a decision published on HISA’s website. The penalty begins on Sunday. Barocio was fined $3,750 for the infractions. Trainers are not allowed to be in possession of syringes on racetrack property.

The ruling was first reported by Paulick Report.

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Barocio, 67, achieved a career milestone in 2025 when Lovesick Blues won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar. Lovesick Blues was later sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in November.

Earlier this year, Lovesick Blues finished fifth in the Group 2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia in February, and eighth in the Grade 1 Golden Shaheen Sprint in Dubai on March 28.

After a rest, Lovesick Blues recently returned to training and has had three workouts this month.

Through Wednesday, Barocio had 12 wins from 67 starters this year. He has won 125 races in his career and has two runners at Del Mar on Saturday.

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