HOLLYWOOD PARK : Positive Sample Called Contaminated

The attorney for Bob Hess Jr. said he believes that one of the trainer’s horses tested positive for a banned substance because the sample was contaminated.

“At this point, it is obvious nothing was administered to the horse, but it somehow got into the horse’s system,” said Donald Calabria, who represented several trainers after the scopolamine positive tests last year.

“I have an investigator working on it. I spent a couple of hours interviewing Mr. Hess, and I’m convinced he did nothing. It’s pretty clear to me at this point that this is a contamination and not an administration.”

Although no ruling has been issued by Hollywood Park stewards, and the California Horse Racing Board is not commenting, Hess’ barn was searched Saturday after a post-race drug test revealed a banned substance, believed to be morphine.

According to a source, the horse in question is Guide, who finished third in the fourth race on May 6.

Winner of the 1993 Del Mar Derby, the 5-year-old came back on May 22 and finished third as the even-money favorite in a $25,000 claimer at Golden Gate Fields. The May 6 start was Guide’s first in 10 months.

Calabria has requested a split-sample, which will be tested by Dr. Thomas Wood at Industrial Laboratories in Denver.

The results could be available within a couple of weeks, Calabria said.

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A surgical procedure performed Wednesday on Afternoon Deelites could allow the 3-year-old colt to return to racing late this year or early next.

After Afternoon Deelites finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby, a problem with the tendon in his left front leg was discovered. It was widely believed the son of Private Terms would be retired.

However, trainer Richard Mandella and veterinarian Rick Arthur are confident that a tendon-splitting procedure, which has worked successfully for them in the past, could enable Afternoon Deelites to race again.

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Horse Racing Notes

Trainer Rene Amescua was fined $500 after Good Lord Barbie, who won the third race at Santa Anita on April 19, tested positive for isoxsuprine, a drug that promotes circulation in the hooves. It is the same substance for which Flanders, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and 2-year-old champion, tested positive last year in New York. . . . Trainer Derek Meredith was fined $300 after Cardmania, who finished third in the Los Angeles Handicap on April 28, was found to have been treated with bute in excess of the permitted levels. . . . Hollywood Park will simulcast the Peter Pan from Belmont Park Sunday and the Metropolitan Handicap the following day. . . . Best Pal will skip Monday’s $500,000 Hollywood Turf Handicap and wait for the Californian on June 11.