Trainer Michelle Giangiulio suspended for phenylbutazone overage

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Trainer Michelle Giangiulio was suspended 10 calendar days and fined $1,000 for an overage of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory phenylbutazone in the post-race sample of Eight and Sand, who won the ninth race at Aqueduct on Dec. 11.

Giangiulio, who waived her right of appeal, began serving the suspension Friday. The ban runs through Jan. 29.

Eight and Sand was disqualified and ordered unplaced in the order of finish. Her owners, Ten Strike Racing, had to forfeit the $19,250 first-place purse.

Itsalittlebitfunny, who finished second, was elevated to first in the maiden $25,000 claiming race for New York-breds.

Giangiulio is the sixth trainer to have a horse test positive for an overage of bute at a NYRA track over a seven-month period. Kieron Magee, Gus Rodriguez, Jeffrey Englehart, Edmund Davis and Tom Morley each had bute overages. All but Englehart’s positive, which came in an April race, was detected since October.

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