Fair Grounds redraws to include trainer suspended in Kentucky

Two horses trained by Juan Muñoz Canó, who is under indefinite suspension in Kentucky, were entered for Sunday’s card at Fair Grounds after two races were redrawn Wednesday to include them, even though it appears they will be scratched.

“Mr. (Muñoz) Canó’s two entries were initially denied by Fair Grounds in observance of his current suspension by the (Kentucky Horse Racing and Gaming Corporation),” said a statement Friday by Churchill Downs Inc., the track owner. “Subsequently, the Louisiana Racing Commission ordered Fair Grounds to redraw these races to include Mr. (Muñoz) Canó’s runners. Upon discussion and a mutual agreement with Mr. (Muñoz) Canó, his runners on Sunday will be scratched so he may focus his racing operations elsewhere until the conclusion of the KHRGC process.”

LRC attorney Brett Bonin said “no comment” in a Wednesday text after 6-year-old gelding Supremely was added to Sunday’s first race, a $15,000 claiming sprint, and Muñoz Canó-owned 11-year-old gelding Shortlist joined the field for the second, a $5,000 claiming route. Neither race attracted a full field, so no entry was rejected for oversubscription.

Click here for Fair Grounds entries and results.

Muñoz Canó, 39, was suspended indefinitely by Kentucky racing authorities this month. Federal regulators said his 2-year-old filly La Bukana, who suffered a fatal breakdown in an Oct. 31 race at Churchill Downs, was flagged in a post-mortem drug test for clenbuterol.

The Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit, which enforces medication rules for the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, first cited Muñoz Canó on Dec. 20. Without waiting for a hearing, the KHRGC voted 3-0 on Jan. 2 to suspend Muñoz Canó for “conduct that is against the best interest of horse racing.”

Under HISA federal rules, Muñoz Canó is entitled to have a second split sample tested before facing punishment. His case was showing Thursday on the HIWU website as pending.

Muñoz Canó has had five starters in Louisiana since the Kentucky suspension was announced, including one at Fair Grounds on Jan. 5. In addition to the Fair Grounds entries this weekend, he has six horses in five races at Delta Downs on Friday, Saturday and next Thursday.

Attempts by Horse Racing Nation to reach Muñoz Canó to comment were unsuccessful.

Although it is common for racing jurisdictions to recognize one another’s suspensions across state lines, this case is unusual because Kentucky acted on its own without waiting for HIWU. Louisiana racing operates outside the jurisdiction of HISA, because it is one of the states challenging the constitutionality of the federal regulator. This has led to a sometimes contentious relationship between the Louisiana Racing Commission and CDI.

In May the LRC announced it would loosen some of its medication regulations, most notably for clenbuterol and Depo-Medrol. That triggered strong reaction from critics including horsemen who said that it was the wrong direction to take the sport. CDI threatened to call off its top stakes races at Fair Grounds if the old rules were not restored. The commission decided in June to stand down and put its stricter regulations back in place.