Thoroughbred trainer Roger Stein has sued Truesdail...

Thoroughbred trainer Roger Stein has sued Truesdail Laboratories of Tustin for “fraud, suppression of evidence, cover-up and laboratory malpractice,” and asked for damages in excess of $25 million in a complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

A postrace test conducted by Truesdail on Emperor’s Turn, a horse trained by Stein, last October at Santa Anita allegedly came up positive for cocaine, prompting track stewards to levy a six-month suspension and a $2,000 fine on the trainer. Stein is appealing the suspension and fine.

In the suit, Stein alleges that the lab intentionally destroyed a blood sample taken from Emperor’s Turn before it could be examined by an independent laboratory, then attempted to cover up the destruction.

Dr. Norman Hester, president of Truesdail Laboratories, had no comment on the suit.