Atras is suspended 10 days, fined $1,000 for bute violation

The report of a bute violation during the Aqueduct winter led to trainer Rob Atras being suspended 10 calendar days and fined $1,000, according to the New York State Gaming Commmission website.

According to Daily Racing Form, which first reported the penalties, Atras decided not to appeal and will serve his suspension June 11-20.

While in the care of Atras, 5-year-old gelding Market Alert was found Feb. 20 to have exceeded the limit of 0.3 micrograms per milliliter of phenylbutazone, according to the commission report. The result came to light from a urine test taken after a fourth-place finish in an $88,000 allowance optional-claiming race. The $5,280 purse earnings from that race were ordered to be forfeited by Michael Dubb, who was the owner of record at the time.

Orlando Noda since became the new trainer of Market Alert, who was claimed in March by Final Turn Racing Stable. PlayingTheField Racing and Acqua Nova Stable also are part of the gelding’s current ownership group. Market Alert has a record of 30: 6-3-6 with earnings of $487,100, according to Equibase.

According to a number of horse-science websites, bute is a non-steroid, anti-inflammatory pain reliever that may treat muscle soreness and soft-tissue injuries. Critics say when it is abused, bute masks symptoms of lameness.