Biancone intends to seek Calif. stalls

Trainer Patrick Biancone, whose one-year suspension for possession of cobra venom, a banned painkiller, ended in Kentucky on Nov. 1, has told Santa Anita officials he intends to apply for stall space this winter, track officials said.

But Biancone has yet to approach California racing officials regarding the reinstatement of his trainer's license, which must occur before he can take possession of stalls.

Biancone told Santa Anita director of racing Mike Harlow recently that he will request stalls for the track's winter-spring meeting that begins Dec. 26. Harlow said it was unclear how many stalls Biancone would request.

"We don't have an application from him yet," Harlow said earlier this week. "He said he had an assortment of horses from Europe, Kentucky, and a few" 2-year-olds.

On Tuesday, Biancone purchased Baroness Thatcher, a filly that he has trained previously and who has earned more than $500,000, at the Keeneland November sale. He said he plans to race her in California this winter.

Biancone, 56, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. Biancone was found to be in possession of cobra venom at his Keeneland stable in June 2007.

In the near future, Biancone is expected to return to training at Hurricane Hall farm in Lexington, Ky., a portion of which he purchased last summer.

Hollywood Park steward Randy Winick said earlier this week that Biancone has not been in contact with California officials. Winick said that California officials would "wait and see what happens in Kentucky, because that's where the ruling is."

Biancone holds an active owner's license in California, but his trainer's license lapsed during his suspension for failure to make workers' compensation insurance payments, California racing officials said earlier this week.