Trainer Morfin Suspended 22 Days, Fined $3,500

Southern California trainer Sergio Morfin has been suspended for 22 days and fined $3,500 for two post-race methocarbamol positive test results in the 3-year-old filly Lady Dosia. The filly, a homebred racing for Karen Norton, first tested positive for the muscle relaxant following her racing debut May 16 at Santa Anita Park, where she finished fourth. The filly tested positive again in her next start, a 5 1/2-furlong maiden claiming race June 12 at Santa Anita. These violations were Morfin's second and third within a two-year period. The trainer was fined $500 following a post-race phenylbutazone positive in the then-7-year-old mare Trouble N Paradise in a March 8, 2024, race at Santa Anita. Morfin, who accepted the violations and agreed to the consequences without a hearing, was suspended 22 days beginning Sept. 12 through Oct. 3, getting seven days for the second Anti-Doping and Medication Control violation and another 15 days for the third violation within two years. In addition, the trainer was fined $1,000 for the second violation and an additional $2,500 for the third violation. These violations gave him three penalty points, as well, bringing his total points to 4.5 points when including the 2024 violation. A trainer who has accumulated six or seven points faces an additional 30-day suspension on top of any penalties received from subsequent violations. The results of Lady Dosia's first two races have been disqualified, and the owner will forfeit $1,700 of her $2,200 in career earnings.