By: David Grening
Trainer Robertino Diodoro on Sunday began serving a 15-day suspension for three medication positives incurred at Turf Paradise during the winter.
Diodoro had three horses test positive for hydroxyethylpromazine sulfoxide, a tranquilizer that the Association of Racing Commissioners International lists as a Class 3 drug. The medication was found in the post-race urine samples of Cable Jett after he finished last as the favorite in an allowance race on Jan. 17; Warren’s Nicholas, after he won a $5,000 claimer on Jan. 24; and Ship Rock, who won a $3,000 claiming race on Feb. 12.
Diodoro, who had to pay $5,250 in fines, was initially suspended 30 days, but had 15 of them stayed as part of a settlement with the Arizona Department of Racing reached on June 6.
Diodoro has been the leading trainer at Turf Paradise for the last four years, during which he averaged 104 wins per meet. He maintains operations in California, Minnesota, New York, and has recently opened up a division at Churchill Downs.
In New York, Diodoro’s horses will run under the name of his assistant Rob Atras.
