Report: Pletcher faces Florida medication-violation charges

Florida racing officials allege that medication violations were found in three horses who raced in December and February for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Each of the allegations is for an overage of a legal therapeutic medication, according to Paulick Report.

The Florida Gaming Control Commission Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering claims that two of Pletcher’s horses tested positive at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 10 and another tested positive at the track on Feb. 3, according to the report.

One of the December cases involves Ari Gold, winner of the Pulpit Stakes on Dec. 10, who tested positive for the ulcer medication omeprazole sulfide, according to the report.

The same day, OK Boomer tested positive for the corticosteroid dexamethasone after a victory in his first start.

And in February, Six Minus tested positive for elevated levels of two anti-inflammatories after an optional-claiming allowance race win, according to a report. Florida regulations prohibit having more than one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug above certain levels.

Pletcher requested hearings for all three cases, according to the report, and split samples were requested for OK Boomer and Six Minus.

OK Boomer was confirmed to be over the allowed level for dexamethasone, but the test for Six Minus has not been returned, according to the report.

The report comes after Pletcher was suspended for a finding of a medication violation in Forte after the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes in September. Forte was disqualified from the race, and Forte’s connections are appealing.

Another Pletcher trainee, Mind Control, tested positive for an unidentified medication after a race at Parx in September, according to the report. That violation has not been adjudicated.