By: Steve Andersen

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Brian Koriner has been fined $3,000 for a medication overage detected in one of his runners after a victory at Del Mar last August.

In a stipulated agreement with the California Horse Racing Board, Koriner was fined and suspended for 30 days, but the suspension was stayed if Koriner does not violate terms of a probation through 2019. One term of the probation is that Koriner cannot have any medication violation for drugs in classes 1, 2, or 3 in 2019.

Mr Vargas, who won the seventh race at Del Mar on Aug. 18, Pacific Classic Day, tested in excess of the permitted level of the anesthetic procaine, according to a ruling issued on Monday by Santa Anita stewards. Mr Vargas, who is owned by Samantha Siegel, was disqualified from the purse money in November, resulting in the redistribution of prize money.

Koriner said in November that his veterinarian took responsibility for the overage.

◗ Trainer Bill Spawr has been fined $750 after Skye Diamonds tested in excess of the permitted level of muscle relaxant methocarbamol following a win in the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on Oct. 7.

The penalty was announced in a ruling published by Santa Anita stewards last weekend.

Skye Diamonds was later 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.