Second Thomas horse tests positive
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Trainer Jamey Thomas will be unable to enter horses for 15 days after a second horse he trains tested above the permitted level for carbon dioxide, an indication of the presence of alkalizing agents. The horse, Tech Two, finished third in a $6,250 claimer on April 27.
The decision was announced Wednesday by the testing review committee, a group charged with penalizing trainers whose horses test positive for alkalizing agents.
The Thomas-trained Seven Way Shake tested above the permitted level after finishing fifth in a $12,500 claimer on March 12. As a result, for 30 days Thomas's horses had to remain in a security barn for 24 hours before they raced. Seven Way Shake won his next start on March 30.
"I'm not going to try to contest it," Thomas said of the ruling, which also requires all his horses to spend 24 hours in a security barn before they race for 30 days after the 15-day ban. In addition, Thomas's stable will be subject to further surveillance
Thomas claimed the high tests were caused by a feed supplement, and said, "maybe I've been using too much."
Thomas said the high tests were "a big deal," but he said, "To say this is enhancing [horses' chances to win], I don't believe it's so."
O.K. Corral steps up in feature
Bay Meadows, running a Friday afternoon card instead of a Friday night card, has five older fillies and mares competing in its feature, a first-level allowance on the turf.
O.K. Corral, who is stepping up after winning three straight claimers, could prove tough if allowed an easy lead. Show Me Your Glory could press her early and should improve off an effort in which she broke through the gate prior to the start and knocked out four teeth.
Stakes nominees
Nominations for Golden Gate Fields's first two stakes, the $150,000 Golden Bear Breeders' Cup Handicap and the $100,000 Alcatraz Breeders' Cup Handicap, closed with 11 horses possible to run against undefeated Lost in the Fog in the Golden Bear on May 14.
Other Golden Bear nominees include multiple stakes winners High Standards and Wind Water.
Nominations for the Alcatraz, a one-mile turf race for 3-year-olds, include multiple stakes winners Chinese Dragon and Texcess, and stakes winners Dover Dere and Juliesugardaddy.