Canani Charges Dropped

Citing a lack of evidence, the California Horse Racing Board has dropped two charges against Julio Canani, the trainer of Sweet Catomine, who finished fifth as the favorite in the Santa Anita Derby.

The racing board also dismissed charges against Marty Wygod, the owner of Sweet Catomine, after a hearing last Saturday before stewards at Hollywood Park. Canani testified at the hearing and was to have his own hearing this Saturday.

In an unrelated case, the racing board has also dropped its complaint against another trainer, Jeff Mullins, who referred to bettors as “idiots” and “addicts” in an interview with T.J. Simers of The Times. Mullins won the Santa Anita Derby with Buzzards Bay.

Canani and Mullins “have not violated any statute or regulation,” said Jim Ahern, a deputy attorney general representing the racing board. “Therefore, the CHRB has no legal basis on which to charge them.”

Ahern added that a rule about conduct detrimental to racing “doesn’t say anything about misrepresentations and controversial statements to the press.”

During the week of the Santa Anita Derby, Canani said several times that Sweet Catomine had no problems. But after the race Wygod said that several things had happened, including a pulmonary-bleeding incident after a workout and the transfer of the filly to a clinic near Santa Barbara.

The filly, who was away from the track almost 48 hours, was identified as a stable pony when she left Santa Anita, but Canani testified that he had not been involved in the transfer.

Dean Kerkhoff, the van driver who misidentified Sweet Catomine, still faces charges and his hearing before the stewards is scheduled for May 12.

Sweet Catomine, once considered a top contender for the Kentucky Derby, was switched from Canani’s barn to trainer John Shirreffs after the race and was later retired.