Trainer Juan Arriagada, who currently ranks second in wins at the Tampa Bay Downs meeting, will be suspended for 15 days for a controlled medication violation.

A final decision from the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit’s Internal Adjudication Panel posted Jan. 31 sanctions Arriagada for a failed postrace test by his runner Alexa’s Dream in a May 22, 2024, race at Delaware Park. The panel issued the sanctions based on a positive finding of acepromazine (or its metabolites or markers). According to equine veterinary sites, acepromazine can be used for light sedation in a horse or as a muscle relaxant in horses.

Arriagada said he contested the charges because he has specifically made it a point to not use acepromazine, noting that years ago one of his horses who received acepromazine stumbled in a morning work. He said at that point he decided to never use it again.

“I don’t use acepromazine. They searched my entire barn and didn’t find any because I don’t use it,” Arriagada said. “I paid $7,500 to hire a lawyer to fight this because I don’t give acepromazine to any of my horses. They offered me reduced sanctions of just a week’s suspension if I’d admit giving the horse acepromazine but as I told my lawyer, I can’t admit to something I didn’t do.

“I’m not sure how it got in the horse’s system; maybe contamination. But they say I did this, so at this point I have to take the 15 days and pay the fine. It’s very difficult.”

Besides issuing the 15-day suspension beginning Feb. 1, Arriagada is to be fined $1,000 and will see two penalty points assigned. The ruling calls for the $12,300 earned in the May 22 claiming race at Delaware won by Alexa’s Dream, who is also owned by the trainer, to be forfeited.

Arriagada claimed Alexa’s Dream for $16,000 out of a May 3, 2024, race at Tampa. 

With 17 wins from 67 starts and earnings of $301,510 through Jan. 30 at Tampa, Arriagada ranked second in wins and third in earnings at the meeting.

Arriagada, who said initially he’d been told his suspension would begin Feb. 9, has two horses entered Feb. 1 and three Feb. 2 at Tampa. He said he’s still trying to get final answers but at this point it’s his understanding from the stewards that those horses can run but he cannot be in the paddock.