Daisy Devine has clenbuterol positive at Keeneland; DQ'd from second in Wiley

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The millionaire mare Daisy Devine has been disqualified from her runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland in April after testing positive for clenbuterol, a Class 3 medication. Trainer Andrew McKeever has been suspended 15 days and fined $500 by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for his role in his stable star being disqualified.

Daisy Devine, owned by James M. and Debbie Miller, was slated to earn $60,000 for finishing second behind Centre Court in the $300,000 Jenny Wiley on April 13. The purse will be redistributed accordingly.

McKeever said this week from his Keeneland base that he will not appeal.

“I accept the penalties under the trainer-responsibility rule and I thank the Millers for their support,” he said. “Having said that, I must make it known that neither I nor my staff nor any veterinarians administer clenbuterol to any of our horses in Kentucky. Since this positive came to our attention, we have installed a security system in my barn whereby all horses can be monitored at all times.”

Clenbuterol, a bronchodilator commonly used for therapeutic purposes, currently has a threshold limit in Kentucky of 25 picograms per milliliter in blood plasma or serum, with a withdrawal guideline of 72 hours. Daisy Devine tested positive for 47 picograms, according to a ruling released Wednesday by the KHRC. A split sample sent to Louisiana State University confirmed the original finding by the KHRC testing lab, HFL Sport Science in Lexington, Ky.

McKeever, an Irish native who has trained in the U.S. since 1995, said his horses will run in the name of his assistant, Brian Murphy, during his absence. The suspension begins July 15.

Daisy Devine has raced twice since the Jenny Wiley, with both starts coming over the Churchill Downs turf. She finished third behind Stephanie’s Kitten and Hungry Island in the Grade 2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile on the May 4 Kentucky Derby undercard, then was second as the odds-on favorite behind Miz Ida as the highweight in the June 8 Mint Julep Handicap.

After the disqualification, Daisy Devine, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Kafwain, now has career earnings of $1,055,892, with 10 wins and 4 seconds from 21 starts.