Natalia Lynch, Mary Pirone receive provisional suspensions for altrenogest positives

Two trainers have been issued provisional suspensions after geldings they trained tested positive for a drug used to regulate estrus in female horses, according to notices posted Friday by the Horseracing Welfare and Integrity Unit.

Natalia Lynch, who has a small stable in New York, and Mary Pirone, who is stabled at Emerald Downs in Washington, were issued the suspensions after their horses tested positive for altrenogest, which is allowed to be administered to fillies and mares but banned for use in male horses. Altrenogest, which is marketed as Regumate, is commonly administered to female Thoroughbred horses.

Lynch and Pirone are the second and third trainers to be suspended for violations involving the drug, which was rarely called for positives prior to the onset of HIWU’s jurisdiction over drug testing and enforcement on May 22. Two weeks ago, McLean Robertson, who is based in the Midwest, also had a gelding test positive for altrenogest.

Positives for banned substances can lead to a suspension of as many as two years for a first-time offense. Because HIWU has not fully adjudicated a positive for a banned substance, it is currently unclear what suspensions will ultimately be levied in the cases, though the suspensions can be reduced depending on the trainer’s cooperation with investigators and during the adjudication process.

Motion to Strike, the gelding trained by Lynch, tested positive after running fourth in a $5,000 claiming race on June 24 at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. The horse was claimed out of the race by owner-trainer Silviano Ramirez, who ran the horse back under his name on July 14 in another $5,000 claiming race. The horse finished third.

According to the New York Racing Association, which granted Lynch 11 stalls at Belmont Park and four stalls at Saratoga, Lynch is in the process of transferring her horses “to a covered person who is not affiliated with Lynch as required by HIWU.”

Lynch did not respond to a text message.

Benny the Jet, the gelding trainer by Pirone, tested positive after running fifth in a $2,500 claiming race on June 24 at Emerald. Benny the Jet was claimed out of the race by trainer Jorge Rosales for new owner Dawn Simpson. The horse won his next start for his new connections, a $2,500 claiming race on July 14 at Emerald.

– additional reporting by David Grening

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