Delta runner's ID probed

Stewards at Delta Downs and the Louisiana State Racing Commission are conducting an investigation to determine whether the horse who ran as Swim Easy in last Saturday's seventh race at Delta was actually a different runner from the barn of Swim Easy's trainer, Kearney Segura.

Judy Dugas, the state steward at Delta, confirmed that the investigation centered on the identity of the horse who raced as Swim Easy, but said that she could not discuss the incident further pending the outcome of the investigation.

The track's horse identifier, Ryan Long, has been temporarily suspended by Boyd Gaming, owner of the track, pending the outcome of the investigation, according to association steward Aaron Emigh.

The horse who ran under the name Swim Easy, sent off at 5-2, was pulled up shortly after the start of the race by jockey Jerri Nichols. The horse returned under his own power to be unsaddled after the race while accompanied by the outrider. The outrider turned the horse over to trainer Traci Vickers, who claimed Swim Easy out of the optional claiming race for $20,000 on behalf of owner Lloyd DeBruycker.

Vickers contacted Delta Downs security Monday morning questioning whether the horse in her barn was indeed Swim Easy.

"I don't believe the horse that ran on Saturday was Swim Easy," said DeBruycker.

Track security determined that the horse in Vickers's barn was another horse, and a switch was made later in the day, with the horse Vickers claimed being returned to Segura's barn and Swim Easy transferred to Vickers barn.

"Both horses were bay and looked similar," said DeBruycker.

Segura claimed Swim Easy for $5,000 from DeBruycker and previous trainer Ray Tracy on Dec. 13, 2003. Swim Easy, 5, had run 14 times under Segura's care before Saturday, winning seven times and earning more than $93,000. He set a five-furlong track record at Delta in January 2004.