Canani seeks to reopen California stable

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Julio Canani, who was suspended for 13 months through November for financial improprieties related to the sale of horses in the late 2000s, has taken steps to reopen a stable, according to California Horse Racing Board officials.

Canani was recently refused a trainer’s license by the racing board, a decision the trainer has yet to appeal.

The denial was based on the terms of Canani’s 2015 suspension, which stated he must participate in a fitness for license hearing before possibly being reinstated.

Canani, who attended the races at Santa Anita on Thursday, was suspended for his role in a 2012 civil court decision in which a jury found him liable for fraud in the sale of California-based horses in 2008.

Canani has won three Breeders’ Cup races in his career. He said Thursday that he would like to resume training.

In June 2012, a California jury awarded $48,750 in actual damages and $50,000 in punitive damages to owner Jeff Nielsen of Minnesota, stemming from a 2009 lawsuit against Canani and other parties for the sale of some of Nielsen’s California-based horses in 2008.

The suit alleged that Canani convinced Nielsen to sell horses at low prices, and that Canani later resold them for more. The case was heard by a mediator, but an agreement between the parties was not reached, leading to the jury trial.

The jury ruled that Canani misrepresented details of the physical condition and values of the horses and told Nielsen that the horses were being sold to another party when Canani bought them himself and then sold them to others for a profit.

In a statement accompanying the suspension, stewards Scott Chaney, Kim Sawyer, and Tom Ward cited the jury’s findings and ruled that Canani violated racing board rules “for fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, conspiracy and unjust enrichment involving the same of horses in his care.”

Canani, 78, trained Sweet Catomine, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2004. His most recent stakes win came with Rosengold in the Tsunami Slew Stakes at Hollywood Park in June 2013.

Eight races on Monday card

The Santa Anita holiday racing period ends with an eight-race program Monday, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Pacific.

No stakes races are scheduled for Monday; there are three optional claimers on Monday’s card, including two on turf.

There are four graded stakes on the Jan. 7-8 programs. The Jan. 7 program is led by the $200,000 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf and the $100,000 Sham Stakes for 3-year-olds at a mile. The Grade 3 Sham Stakes is part of the buildup to the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 8.

The Jan. 7 program includes the $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course.

The Jan. 8 card is led by the $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.