The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority plans to investigate multiple horses and races following concerns raised on social media about some dramatic form turnarounds along with some odd betting patterns in several races Aug. 9 at Saratoga Race Course and Monmouth Park.
The initial post raising concerns about the big performances by the horses as well as the betting patterns was made Aug. 9 on X (formerly known as Twitter) by handicapper and former jockey agent Doug Salvatore. He pointed to winning efforts by a pair of runners at Monmouth, two more winning runners at Saratoga, and one other starter who finished fourth at the Spa after a troubled start.
The five horses had been training at Fair Hill ahead of their races Sunday.
"HISA is aware of information circulating on social media and concerns raised directly to HISA personnel regarding events at multiple races on August 9 and is actively investigating those concerns," HISA said in a statement. "We take any potential violations of HISA rules extremely seriously."
"Consistent with HIWU's test distribution plan, all horses that won the races referenced were immediately selected for post-race testing. Additional targeted out-of-competition testing has been and will continue to be administered by HIWU (HISA's enforcement arm, the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit)."
The four winning race outcomes and betting patterns that Salvatore said warranted further investigation were The Great Amira in race 3 at Monmouth, Tepeyac in race 4 at Monmouth, Classic Rock in race 4 at Saratoga, and M B's Melanie Cares in race 7 at Saratoga. The two Monmouth runners are each trained by Angel Quiroz while Ernesto Ochoa is the owner and trainer of the two Saratoga winners.
The New York Racing Association referred the matter to HISA, HIWU, and the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau. The TRPB is an industry initiative with expertise in wagering pools.
BloodHorse emphasizes that neither horseman is yet accused by any regulator of doing something wrong. The race outcomes are being investigated by HISA and the winning horses all received postrace tests.
Salvatore listed some questionable payouts. For instance, The Great Amira paid more to win, $37.20, than the $2 double to 7-2 Tepeyac returned, $25.60.
HISA did take some immediate action Monday. It placed Threedots Andadash, who was entered by owner/trainer Quiroz to compete Aug. 10 at Presque Isle Downs, on the HISA veterinarians' list as deemed unfit to race. Threedots Andadash will remain on the veterinarians' list pending further developments in the investigation.
HISA noted that it's not currently operating in West Virginia, but informed the West Virginia Racing Commission about a horse with similar connections as the horses receiving further review that raced Sunday. Ahead of the second race at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort Monday, the stewards scratched Bravo Rough, who had raced for Quiroz in his previous start, had a new trainer listed for Aug. 10, and had been training at Fair Hill.
