Winning horse's purse ordered redistributed at Santa Anita after drug-positive test from January race

ARCADIA, Calif. - The $34,000 purse of a starter allowance for older fillies and mares at Santa Anita in January was ordered redistributed by track stewards on Friday after race winner Ms Brightside tested positive for omeprazole, an anti-ulcer medication.

Ms Brightside won the one-mile turf race by a length as the 2-1 second choice. The positive was found in a post-race blood test, according to the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit.

In Friday’s ruling, the $20,400 winner’s portion of the purse was ordered forfeited by owner Paul Gange, who races as Panic Stables, trainer Phil D’Amato and jockey Umberto Rispoli.

Ms Brightside was demoted to last of seven, with the purse redistributed to the original second- through sixth-place finishers – Bottle Rocket, Nanci Griffith, Step It Out, Girlcanthelpit, She’s Splendid and Blue Oasis.

According to HIWU records, D’Amato, one of California’s leading trainers, received only a written reprimand.

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