Two trainers ordered to vacate stalls at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – California trainers Mike Pender and Marcelo Polanco were told by Santa Anita management over the weekend to vacate their stalls, according to two track officials who declined to speak publicly.

Pender, who has approximately 19 horses, was cited for an undisclosed horse-welfare issue, while Polanco, who has five horses in his care, was cited for training a horse on behalf of another person, according to the track officials.

It was not immediately clear when Pender and Polanco would be required to disperse their horses.

Pender declined to comment when approached at Santa Anita on Sunday afternoon. Polanco did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Track officials declined to speak on the record about the situation.

Santa Anita stewards conducted a hearing with Pender regarding a horse-welfare issue on May 13. The stewards have not released a decision in the case.

Pender, 53, has won five races with 45 starters this year. He has won such prestigious races as the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile at Hollywood Park in 2012 and Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar in 2013 with Jeranimo. Pender won the Grade 3 Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita in 2018 with Lombo.

Polanco was listed as trainer of Commander Coil, who was euthanized Friday after suffering a shoulder injury while galloping at Santa Anita. Commander Coil was the first horse lost in a training or racing accident at Santa Anita since March 31.

Polanco, 58, has two wins with 22 starters this year. Polanco won two Grade 1 races at Santa Anita with Island Fashion – the 2003 La Brea Stakes and 2004 Santa Monica Stakes. He has not won a stakes since 2010.

A similar situation occurred last month when track officials told trainer William Morey he was no longer allowed to race at Santa Anita after a member of his staff allegedly committed a medication violation on March 29 that led to an investigation and a complaint filed by the California Horse Racing Board.

The stewards conducted a hearing into Morey’s case May 2, and the hearing has been continued until June 3. The racing board’s complaint against Morey alleges that a substance containing an alkalizing agent was administered to horses entered to race at Santa Anita.

Most of Morey’s horses were dispersed to other trainers based at Santa Anita in late March and early April.