Suspended for 'impeding' probe, Vitali runs horses elsewhere

Marcus Vitali, to whom the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission issued a yearlong suspension Monday, has two horses entered Friday at Monmouth Park and another scheduled to run Saturday at Saratoga.

The DTRC issued Vitali his suspension, which was first reported Wednesday by Daily Racing Form, “for interfering with and impeding an investigation being performed by the DTRC investigator along with Delaware Park Security staff.”

John Wayne, executive director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, told DRF that Vitali was suspected of removing a vial from a refrigerator in a dormitory after security had already entered the dorm room to conduct a search. 

The DTRC’s official ruling says Vitali participated July 12 in a telephone hearing with the Delaware Park Board of Stewards. He was fined $2,500 in addition to his 365-day suspension.

“During the term of the suspension, Mr. Vitali is denied access to all facilities under the jurisdiction of the DTRC,” the ruling reads. “Further, any and all horses owned and/or trained by Marcus Vitali are denied entry pending sale or transfer to a party approved by the Board of Stewards.”

Friday at Monmouth Park, Vitali is set to saddle Affluential in the day’s eighth race, a claiming event, and One Mission in race No. 11 for maiden claimers.

Then Saturday, Vitali has Hijacker entered in race No. 12 at Saratoga, a claiming event on the Jim Dandy Stakes card.

Vitali has sent 178 runners to the starting gate so far in 2019, returning 23 victories and $714,385 in prize money.

For his career, Vitali sports a 5,635: 888-798-676 record with $14,624,007 earned. Runners Lochte (three) and Valid (four) combined to earn the trainer each of his seven career graded stakes wins from 2014-16.

Vitali in 2016 was also charged with seven medication violations in Florida.