Santa Anita notes: Yakteen horses improving after equine herpesvirus positives

Two horses who tested positive for equine herpesvirus at trainer Tim Yakteen’s Santa Anita barn in recent weeks have shown improvement, Yakteen said earlier this week.

Santa Fe Belle, diagnosed Jan. 10, is being treated at a clinic in San Diego County.

“She keeps improving,” Yakteen said.

Easy Ten remains under isolation at the end of Yakteen’s shed row, away from other horses in the barn.

“He’s bright and he’s alert,” Yakteen said.

The horses were found to have a “non-neuropathogenic strain of the virus, which is generally considered less virulent,” according to a statement released by the California Horse Racing Board last Friday.

Yakteen said that he does not plan to have runners in coming days, pending discussions with Rick Arthur, California’s equine medical director.

“I’ll do what’s best for the well-being of Santa Anita,” Yakteen said.

Since the outbreak, Yakteen’s horses have been allowed to train.

Miller fined $1,000

Trainer Peter Miller has been fined $1,000 by track stewards for failing to report that Appealing Tale was racing as a gelding for the first time on Jan. 4. Appealing Tale won an optional claimer over a mile as a 5-1 shot.

On Jan. 4, Appealing Tale was announced to be running as a gelding for the first time on the morning of the race. Trainers are required to inform the racing office that horses have been gelded when entries are submitted.

◗ Jockey Julien Couton was fined $400 by track stewards for failing to ride Vegas Rules to the finish of the sixth race Jan. 12. Vegas Rules, a 20-1 shot, finished fifth in an optional claimer on the hillside turf course. Vegas Rules finished a nose behind fourth-place finisher Hidethegoodstuff. The race included superfecta betting on the first four finishers.