All American Futurity winner disqualified
Stolis Winner has been disqualified from his win in the $1.9 million All American Futurity for Quarter Horses following a lengthy stewards' hearing at Sunland Park on Thursday. The horse tested positive for caffeine following the Sept. 1 race at Ruidoso Downs.
Heath Taylor, the trainer of Stolis Winner, was suspended six months and fined $1,500.
Stewards issued two rulings in the case, one disqualifying Stolis Winner, who races for Jerry Windham, from the purse money, and the other suspending Taylor. Both rulings were appealed to the New Mexico Horse Racing Commission and Taylor was granted a stay of his suspension, according to Kenneth Hart, a steward at Sunland.
Julian Luna, executive director for the racing commission, was not available for comment Friday. Billy Blackburn, the attorney representing Taylor, did not return a Friday phone call.
The stewards' ruling elevates Jet Black Patriot, the All American runner-up by a half-length, to first place.
Taylor has denied any wrongdoing since the caffeine positive was made known by the commission last fall. Stolis Winner, who is currently sidelined with a minor physical setback, also won the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity and Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity last year.
