Trainer Evans fined, suspended 30 days for medication overage

Sunland Park leading trainer Justin Evans has been suspended 30 days for a Class 4 medication violation dating back to the Zia Park meet in November, according to a recent ruling issued by the New Mexico Racing Commission. He also was fined $2,500.

Evans was cited for an overage of dexamethasone, an approved therapeutic medication, in a sample taken from Dapirate following his win in the eighth race Nov. 26 at Zia. A split sample was sent to a second testing lab and confirmed the overage, according to the ruling.

Evans did not immediately return a call Saturday.

An official with the New Mexico Racing Commission said Evans indicated to the Sunland Park board of stewards he would serve the days. A licensee has 10 days from the date of a ruling to appeal in New Mexico. The original ruling was issued March 9, but a modified ruling, which concerned the span of the suspension dates, was issued after that time, according to the official.

The suspension began March 14 and will run through April 12. Sunland closes its meet April 17.

– additional reporting by Brad Free