It's a Bird hearing scheduled

The Arkansas Racing Commission has scheduled a July 21 hearing on It's a Bird's positive test for Naproxen following his April 4 win in the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap. The hearing will be heard during the commission's regularly scheduled meeting at the Ledbetter Building in Little Rock, Ark.

Oaklawn concluded its meet April 11.

"Since the stewards are gone, this one is going straight to the commission," said Ron Oliver, executive director of the commission.

Naproxen, a nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory sold for human use under the brand name Aleve, is a Class 4 medication violation. Arkansas has a zero-tolerance policy on the drug. Possible penalties are loss of purse, fine and/or suspension.

It's a Bird has established himself as one of the top handicap horses in the nation this year for trainer Marty Wolfson. He won the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park in January, and followed that up with wins in the Oaklawn and the Grade 3, $400,000 Lone Star Park Handicap on May 25.

In his most recent start, It's a Bird was seventh in the Grade 2 Suburban at Belmont Park on July 4.