Trainer Aguirre suspended 15 days for medication violation

Trainer Paul Aguirre has been suspended 15 days, from Monday through April 12, and fined $500 after one of his runners tested positive for a banned medication at the Los Alamitos winter Thoroughbred meeting in December 2019, according to a ruling published by Santa Anita stewards earlier this month.

The ruling was the result of decision issued by the California Horse Racing Board following a recent hearing.

Aguirre, 59, was suspended 30 days, but 15 days of the penalty – from April 13-27 – was stayed provided Aguirre does not have any violations for medications in Classes 1, 2, or 3 through March 14, 2022.

The Aguirre-trained Smiling to Excess tested positive for the pain medication Gabapentin when second in the second race on Dec. 14, 2019. Gabepentin is listed as a Class 3 medication.

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◗ The purse of a claiming race at the Los Alamitos winter Thoroughbred meeting in December has been redistributed after race winner Majestic Diva tested positive for the banned medication clenbuterol, a bronchodilator.

Majestic Diva won a one-mile race for $7,000 to $8,000 claimers by 1 3/4 length at 11-1 on Dec. 19. Owners Johnny and Marcel Taboada, trainer Reed Saldana, and jockey Jessica Pyfer were ordered to forfeit their shares of the winnings.

The purse has been redistributed to the second- through eighth-place finishers in the field of nine.