DEL MAR : Vienna Defends Two Trainers Whose Horses Failed Drug Test

DEL MAR —  Darrell Vienna, who is representing fellow trainers Vladimir Cerin and Gary Jones after horses they train tested positive for banned substances during the recent Hollywood Park meeting, released a statement regarding both on Monday.

Jones’ positive for Made Of Jade, who won the third race on June 7, was for phenylpropanolamine, which was described in the California Horse Racing Board’s complaint as a decongestant.

Six horses trained by Cerin tested positive for caffeine between June 21 and July 13.

“The complaint filed by the CHRB against Gary Jones stems from an alleged post-race finding of phenylpropanolamine in a horse trained by Mr. Jones,” read the statement from Vienna, who has a law practice in Pasadena with Shauna Weeks. “Phenylpropanolamine is an ingredient in a number of readily available over-the-counter, non-prescription preparations designed for use in both adults and children.

“We are unaware of any study indicating that phenylpropanolamine has any effect upon the performance of race horses. While we are in the early stages of our investigations into this allegation, preliminary findings point toward contamination of a commercially prepared and permissible nutritional feed additive.”

In the case of Cerin, the statement from Vienna indicated there were minuscule amounts of caffeine, which is a stimulant.

“Caffeine, of course, is found not only in coffee, but in numerous health products, dietary preparations and natural feedstuffs,” the statement read. “In light of evidence already in our possession, we are confident that Vladimir will be exonerated on all charges contained in the complaints.”

Jones is scheduled to have a hearing before Del Mar stewards George Slender, Dave Samuel and Dennis Nevin on Aug. 30. Cerin is scheduled to have a similar hearing on Sept. 6.

Jones served a 30-day suspension from Dec. 21, 1993 through Jan. 20, 1994 after Capel tested positive for Decozine during the 1993 Del Mar meeting. Cerin had a clenbuterol positive dismissed in 1992.

Horse Racing Notes

Apprentice rider Jimi Okamura scored his first victory when Lucky Marge led all the way in Monday’s second race. Okamura had been 0 for 64. . . . Pres Jenuine, 86, a longtime horse racing executive in California, died Sunday in Terre Haute, Ind. Jenuine served as general manager of Western Harness Racing, Inc., for 30 years. He is survived by his wife, Helen, a daughter, a sister, a grandson and two nephews. Services will be held Saturday in Greenup, Ill. . . . There is a Pick Six carry-over of more than $83,000 for Wednesday’s card at Del Mar.