Quiroz, trainer at center of investigation, has horse test positive for albuterol
Angel Quiroz, one of two trainers being investigated for potential violations relating to five horses who raced at Monmouth Park and Saratoga on Aug. 9 - four of whom won - was found to have a different horse test positive for a banned substance for which he could face up to a two-year suspension.
Bonita Rough, a 4-year-old filly who has not raced since June 2025, was found to have the banned substance albuterol in her system following a July 10 workout at the Fair Hill training center in Maryland, according to the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU). Albuterol is a bronchodilator used for relief of acute airway obstruction. A sample was collected from the horse after she worked a half-mile in 49.60 seconds in a workout done to get off a veterinarian’s list, presumably with the hopes of making it back to the races. Horses who work to get off a vet’s list must pass blood, urine, and hair testing before they are permitted to race.
A violation charge letter was served to Quiroz after he was notified of the positive test. Quiroz waived the opportunity to request B sample analysis and failed to provide a sufficient explanation for the positive test, according to HIWU. Quiroz will now have the opportunity to request a hearing before a neutral arbitrator.
Bonita Rough raced once in her career, finishing last of seven, beaten 27 lengths in a mile and 70-yard maiden race over Gulfstream Park’s Tapeta surface on June 22, 2025. Frank Santillana was listed as the trainer while Long Trail Stables was listed as the owner and breeder of the daughter of Gone Astray for that race.
Bonita Rough shows 22 workouts at Gulfstream Park since that race, 16 from Dec. 29, 2025, through May 27 before not showing up on the work tab again until July 10 at Fair Hill.
Quiroz is the trainer of The Great Amira and Tepeyac, who won races 3 and 4 at Monmouth Park on Aug. 9. The individual winning prices of The Great Amira ($37.20) and Tepeyac ($9.60) resulted in a $1 double payout of $12,80, far lower than would be expected. Quiroz also ran a horse at Saratoga on Aug. 9, Scootaloo, who finished fourth. Those horses have also been training at Fair Hill.
Quiroz is believed to be associated with owner/trainer Ernesto Ochoa, two Fair Hill-based horsemen who each won races on Sunday at Saratoga with Classic Rock ($18.68) and M Bs Melanie Cares ($27.70). Ochoa is also being investigated by HIWU for potential violations involving those two horses.
A message left for Quiroz was not immediately returned.
The five horses who raced at Monmouth and Saratoga on Aug. 9 were believed to be part of a betting coup that cost bookmakers in England six figures, according to published reports.
Test results for any additional horses trained by Quiroz that have recently been tested will be disclosed in accordance with the Anti-Doping and Medication Control Program rules, according to HIWU.
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