Pennsylvania commission reverses DQ of Saffie Joseph horse

The Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission reversed its decision to disqualify a horse trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. because of a positive drug test.

Artie’s Princess, a now 6-year-old mare, was DQ’d from her win in the Masters Stakes at Presque Isle Downs in September after a positive test for gabapentin, a pain-killing medication.

In a Friday ruling, reported earlier by Daily Racing Form, the commission said it was reversing that decision “after additional investigation and review of the available scientific literature, or lack thereof, on the effects of gabapentin in horses at the low levels detected in the urine.”

The ruling said the commission noted “that the level of gabapentin in the blood in this sample was not detected by the laboratory” and that “it is unlikely for gabapentin to have had an effect on the horse.”

In a February ruling by the commission, Joseph was suspended for 15 days and fined $500, and the purse was ordered to be redistributed. Joseph was granted an appeal, which led to Friday’s ruling. The commission also ruled that the $240,000 winner’s share of the purse would be returned.

Artie’s Princess, owned by Kenneth Ramsey and the estate of Sarah Ramsey, is 0-for-3 since that start, most recently finishing eighth in a black-type stakes at Woodbine.