California trainer Felix Rondan has been suspended seven days and fined $1,000 for a methocarbamol positive found in the post-race test of the 4-year-old filly Cee's the Image, according to the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit.
Rondan accepted the medication violation finding and the consequences. His suspension runs April 12-18. The penalties include forfeiture of more than $14,000 that Cee's the Image earned after winning a March 8 starter optional claiming race at Santa Anita Park for owners Laurie LeAnne Hill and Steven Hill. The filly was bred by Laurie LeAnne Hill.
This controlled medication violation is Rondan's second since July 25, 2024, when he was fined $500 for a phenylbutazone positive. Rondan received 1.5 penalty points for each of his two violations, giving him a total of three points. A trainer with six or more penalty points within two years can receive additional time on a suspension, depending on the number of points. A trainer with six to seven points can receive 30 additional days. A trainer with 12.5 points or more can receive 180 additional days.
Methocarbamol is a Class C controlled medication, meaning it can be used for treatment and can be present after official timed workouts, but cannot be in a horse's body on race day. The drug is used to treat muscle spasms, soreness, and inflammation. Horses that are "tying up," or suffering severe muscle spasms after overexertion, are commonly treated with methocarbamol.
