Trainer gets 60 days for false work

MIAMI - The Calder stewards have suspended trainer Julian Canet 60 days for "corrupt and fraudulent practices" and his assistant Jorge Navarro 30 days for "making false and misleading statements to the stewards." Stewards said they worked a horse under a fictitious name.

The suspensions were to take effect on Tuesday. Canet has appealed his ruling to Calder management and will have a hearing scheduled within the next week according to the track's general manger Randy Soth. Navarro did not appeal.

The suspensions stem from the victory of 2-year-old Tea and Kippers in his career debut at Calder on Aug. 25. Tea and Kippers, a son of Kipper Kelly trained by Canet, showed no recorded workouts when he launched his career under a $12,500 claiming tag. Despite the lack of works, Tea and Kippers was bet down to 5-2 and rallied from just off the pace to register a relatively easy

4 3/4-length victory. He paid $7.80.

"From what we learned, both Mr. Canet and Mr. Navarro had given a fictitious name to the gate crew and clockers on several occasions when Tea and Kippers worked," explained state steward Walter Blum. "The horse had been working under the name of Que Ball. We felt that by his actions Mr. Canet had defrauded the public as well as [the stewards]."

Canet said that on the advice of his lawyer he had no comment on the matter until after his hearing.

Blum said he hopes that by taking strict action in this case others will think twice about attempting to mislead the clockers regarding workout information at Calder.

"I think this ruling will certainly open someone's eyes," said Blum. "Obviously it is difficult for [the stewards] to police this situation on a daily basis. We're not out watching workouts every morning. But we do try to do as much as we can when a complaint is brought to our attention. Unfortunately in this case we did not receive the complaint until after the horse had run and won."