FBI Raids at Calder and Palm Meadows

[Kasept]

Horses trained by indicted horsemen Servis, Tannuzzo must be sent to other trainers
By David Grening

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Owners who have horses based in New York with trainers Jason Servis and Mike Tannuzzo will have to make arrangements to move their stock to other trainers in the wake of the indictments handed down Monday by the District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, accusing both horsemen with participating in a scheme to administer illegal medications to horses.

As of early Monday afternoon, the New York State Gaming Commission had not made an official determination on the trainer’s licenses held by Servis and Tannuzzo. But, Brad Maione, a spokesman for the commission, said that when “a trainer is ruled off the grounds or suspended there are arrangements made for someone to be tasked with taking care of his or her horses.”

Pat McKenna, a spokesman for the New York Racing Association, said early Monday afternoon that NYRA is “engaged in active dialogue with the New York State Gaming Commission to make a determination to how to responsibly care for the horses that were under the care of Jason Servis and Mike Tannuzzo.”

Servis, who is the third-leading trainer at the Aqueduct with 14 wins and $1.16 million in purse money won, has three horses entered on Friday’s Aqueduct card. They are expected to have to scratch. Henry Argueta, the longtime assistant to Servis, was also named in the indictment.

Tannuzzo, with a considerably smaller stable than Servis, has five wins from 24 starters.

While Servis and trainer Jorge Navarro were indicted for allegedly administering illegal drugs to their horses, Tannuzzo was indicted for assisting Navarro with “obtaining, shipping, and administering misbranded and adulterated PEDs for Navarro’s benefit,” according to the indictment.

“There is absolutely no place in our sport for those would administer illegal or banned substances to racehorses under their care,” McKenna said. “The New York Racing Association is committed to preserving and protecting the integrity of the sport and the safety of the equine and human athletes who compete at our tracks. We will continue to work closely with the New York State Gaming Commission and our industry partners across the country to advance meaningful reforms that protect the future of Thoroughbred horse racing.”

Ron Lombardi, a horse owner who races under Mr. Amore Stable, has had horses with Servis since 2007. He currently has 15 horses with Servis, including the Grade 1 winner Firenze Fire.

“Right now I’m in total shock,” he said Monday. “I’m trying to gather more information. I know it’s not looking good. I’m trying to sort through everything right now and figure out what I need to do.

Lombardi, who also has horses with Kelly Breen, is hoping to run Firenze Fire in the Grade 1 Carter at Aqueduct on April 4.

Attempts to reach Michael Dubb, who owns several horses with Servis, and Gary West, the owner of the Servis-trained Maximum Security, were unsuccessful as of 2 p.m. Eastern Monday.