Pletcher serves suspension for Forte's positive test in Hopeful

Trainer Todd Pletcher began serving a 10-day suspension Thursday. This dates back to a finding for an anti-inflammatory in Forte after the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes in 2022.

The dates of Pletcher's suspension were published Thursday on the New York State Gaming Commission website. He will be suspended Thursday through June 27. He is also being fined $1,000 for the finding. The suspension previously was reported by Matt Hegarty of Daily Racing Form.

Outspoken owner Mike Repole, who owned Forte in partnership with St. Elias Stables, took to X to criticize New York racing regulators in light of the suspension. He called the New York State Gaming Commission "everything that is wrong with horse racing regulation," and noted that the issue he was being suspended for would not have been a violation under current Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority rules.

The finding of Meloxicam would not have been a violation under current HISA rules. But because it happened before HISA's anti-doping and medication control program took effect, the case is under New York's jurisdiction, not HISA's.

This case has been the subject of a long string of legal action over the last almost four years. Pletcher appealed to a hearing officer, who upheld the suspension. He then appealed to the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, which also upheld the suspension in May of this year.

Though Pletcher is serving the suspension, the case might not be over. According to the DRF report, Pletcher's attorney Drew Mollica has filed motions for leave to appeal and for leave to re-argue the decision.