Mid-Atlantic trainer Javier Morzan has been suspended for 30 days and fined $2,500 for multiple violations of giving horses in his care intra-articular joint injections within a 14-day stand-down period prior to racing and violating a seven-day stand-down period prior to working as required by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit.
Morzan accepted the consequences for four incidences of joint injections, two involving a now 5-year-old mare named Get a Grip Marilyn prior to races in 2024, and one involving a 7-year-old mare named Kestenna prior to a race, and one injection to Kestenna prior to a timed workout. Both horses are owned by Chuncho Bravo Stable and Farm.
Get a Grip Marilyn raced in a $21,000 claiming race Jan. 29, 2024, at Parx Racing with a $7,500 tag and in a $19,000 claiming race March 22, 2024, at Penn National Race Course with a $10,000 tag. She was unplaced in both races. Kestenna raced Feb. 23, 2024, in a $15,000 claiming race at Penn National with a $5,000 tag and finished last. The older mare has started in 20 races since Feb. 23 of last year and won or placed in nine of them. Morzan also was cited for working Kestenna Jan. 23, 2024, only three days after she reportedly received an intra-articular joint injection. Per HIWU rules, the mare was not eligible to work until Jan. 27, according to a HIWU report.
Morzan's suspension began May 8 and runs through June 6.
