O'Neill will serve 30-day suspension for lidocaine use

Trainer Doug O'Neill will serve a 30-day suspension, starting Monday, for the use of lidocaine in a horse at Golden Gate Fields in May.

O'Neill told Horse Racing Nation in a text message that his assistant Leandro Mora will take over his stable during the suspension.

The California Horse Racing Board suspended O'Neill for 60 days, but half of that term will be stayed. He also was fined $10,000 and placed on probation for a year, retroactive to May 1.

The horse in question is Worse Red Sanchez, who finished third in the black-type Silky Sullivan Stakes at Golden Gate on May 1.

O'Neill's horses raced under Mora's name during a 10-day suspension last year. They included Hot Rod Charlie, who won the 2021 Louisiana Derby (G2) in Mora's name.

Mora also took over O'Neill's stable during previous suspensions and was credited for training wins with Handsome Mike in the 2012 Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and Goldencents in the 2014 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

O'Neill, a two-time Kentucky Derby winner, finished third in the training standings for the recently concluded Santa Anita meet, with a record of 68: 13-14-13.