Razorback winner, Win Willy, disqualified

The Oaklawn Park board of stewards has disqualified Win Willy from his win in the Grade 3, $150,000 Razorback Handicap after he tested positive for two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. The action elevates Spotsgone, who finished second in the race, to the winner of the Razorback, which was run on March 6.

A split sample confirmed the positives, and the ruling was upheld by the Arkansas Racing Commission at its meeting on Tuesday.

Mac Robertson, who trains Win Willy, said he would not appeal. He was fined $1,000. In addition, stewards ordered that the purse of the race be redistributed.

"The levels - to me, they were trace levels," Robertson said. "If that's what they feel is necessary, that's what I'll abide by. They gave their ruling based on their rules, and I don't see the point in appealing."

Arkansas rules state that a horse is not allowed to have the presence of more than one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory in his system. The positives in Win Willy's case were for phenylbutazone and flunixin, Class 4 category medications that include therapeutic drugs that "may influence performance, but generally have a more limited ability to do so," according to the guidelines of ARCI.

Win Willy ran second in the Grade 2, $500,000 Oaklawn Handicap in his last start April 3. He was freshened after that race and is to resume training in the next two weeks at Delaware Park, said Robertson.