The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has issued a 10-year suspension to a Midwest-based trainer after he acknowledged the possession of two electrical devices that could be used to stimulate horses, according to a ruling posted on HISA’s website. 

Isidro Castro, who has 22 lifetime wins from 333 starts since taking out his trainer’s license in 2020, “admitted responsibility” to possessing the devices during a hearing with stewards at Fairmount Park in Collinsville, Ill., on Sept. 3, according to the ruling.  

Om N Joy, unbeaten in five starts at Del Mar and Santa Anita since March, including four stakes, may race outside of California for the first time in the Grade 2 Raven Run Stakes for 3-year-olds fillies at Keeneland on Oct. 18.

Trainer Aggie Ordonez said on Wednesday that Om N Joy has been nominated to the Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita on Sept. 28, but that the $400,000 Raven Run Stakes has greater appeal.

The Zenyatta “looks awful tough,” she said. “It seems to make sense to stick with the 3-year-olds fillies.”

The Cary Grant Stakes, run for California-bred sprinters each November at Del Mar, has been renamed The Chosen Vron Stakes, the track announced on Wednesday.

The Chosen Vron, a two-time Grade 1 winner and the California-bred Horse of the Year in 2023 and 2024, was retired in March after winning 19 of 24 starts and earning $1,709,678. The Chosen Vron, a 7-year-old gelding, raced for the partnership of John Sondereker, Robert Fetkin, Richard Thornburgh, and trainer Eric Kruljac.

A weekend workout by Dr. Venkman will determine whether the 5-year-old gelding will race before the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Nov. 1.

Trainer Mark Glatt said on Wednesday that Dr. Venkman may start in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs on Sept. 28. Dr. Venkman earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile with a win in his last race, the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 23. The BC Sprint at six furlongs is another option, Glatt said.

Total handle at the recently concluded Monmouth Park meet in Oceanport, N.J., fell 16.1 percent as the track struggled to fill races during a crowded summer calendar, according to an analysis conducted by Daily Racing Form. 

Total handle dropped $44.2 million, from $212.7 million during a 50-day meet last year to $178.5 million during a 49-day meet this year, according to the analysis. Despite racing only one less day, Monmouth carded 34 less races this year and average handle per race dropped 9.8 percent.