By: David Grening
Danny Gargan will serve a seven-day suspension and must pay a $1,000 fine after a horse he trained who won at Aqueduct last December had an overage of the medication medication Phenylbutazone (Bute) in his system.
Gargan was initially suspended 10 days but the penalty, issued him by the New York Gaming commission steward, was reduced to seven days for waiving his right of appeal.
The Gargan-trained Playwright finished first as the 9-5 favorite in a New York-bred maiden $40,000 claiming race at Aqueduct on Dec. 6. A post-race test showed the medication of Bute in the horse’s system in excess of the allowable threshold. Bute is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory used to relieve pain.
Playwright, owned by Morris Bailey, is ruled unplaced in the order of finish and Bailey must forfeit the $24,600 purse. Summer Mischief is now elevated to first in that race.
“People make mistakes, I’m not blaming anybody, it is what it is,” Gargan said. “Chalk it up and move on.”
Gargan, who on Friday won a maiden $30,000 claiming race at Aqueduct with Indian Ghost, is 3 for 9 at Aqueduct this winter and 5 for 11 at Gulfstream Park where he also maintains a string.
Gargan will serve the suspension from Feb. 18 thru the 24th. On Feb. 17, Gargan is expected to run Divine Miss Grey in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie Handicap at Laurel Park.
