Social Inclusion will not use Lasix in Haskell

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Social Inclusion will not run on Lasix in the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday at Monmouth Park.

After the colt finished third in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard, trainer Manny Azpurua and the Rontos Racing Stable submitted the necessary documents to the state veterinarians in Florida on June 19, indicating Social Inclusion would no longer use the anti-bleeding medication.

Owner Ron Sanchez said Social Inclusion had become excited and washy before his recent races, and both he and Azpurua suspect the Lasix might have been the cause.

Sanchez said he believes the horse will be “cooler, calmer, and more relaxed. We expect it will make a difference tomorrow.”

All proper procedures were followed to report the medication change, according Monmouth’s state steward, Steve Pagano.

However, the declaration is not automatically entered in a horse’s past-performance information, and the Monmouth race office was not advised of the change at the time of entry.

The Daily Racing Form past performances and the official track program will list Social Inclusion as a Lasix user.

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The medication change will be announced to fans at Monmouth and prominently displayed on the track’s video feed to alert on-track and simulcast players.

Social Inclusion did not use Lasix in his winning debut at Gulfstream Park in February. Lasix was added for his next start, when he broke the Gulfstream record for 1 1/16 miles.

He ran third on Lasix in his next three starts: the Wood Memorial, the Preakness, and the Woody Stephens.

Social Inclusion is 8-1 on the Haskell morning line.

– additional reporting by Jim Dunleavy