Garufa Mask tested positive following his victory in the Clásico Refinado Tom and has been provisionally suspended

A total of 7 trainers were provisionally suspended in recent days across Hipódromo de San Isidro and Hipódromo Palermo

A series of provisional suspensions issued by the racing committees of Palermo and San Isidro has left seven trainers and as many horses subject to regulatory measures. Heading the list is the case of Garufa Mask (Mask), following his performance in the Clásico Refinado Tom (L), run this past September 2 at the Jockey Club's oval.

The decisions were adopted during sessions held on September 17 at Palermo and September 18 at San Isidro, and were subsequently extended locally under Resolutions 973 and 974. The published documents cite the regulatory infractions that triggered the actions, though they do not specify substances nor set definitive penalties.

The case of Garufa Mask carries particular sporting significance due to its occurrence in a stakes event. The resolution provisionally suspended both the horse and trainer Carlos Arnaldo Vigil for a violation of Article 25 of the General Racing Rules, stemming from the sixth race on September 2.

During the same session, the Racing Committee at the northern track also resolved to provisionally suspend Norberto Gerardo Ricchi and Luna Colosal (Cityscape), following their participation in the eighth race on September 4. An identical measure reached Seferino Antonio Espindola and Pepito In (Inventive), who competed in the eleventh race on that same card. Article 25 was likewise invoked in both instances.

On the Palermo side, the four provisional suspensions stem from performances registered during the August 28 and August 31 meetings, and were issued for violations of Article 36 of its General Racing Rules.

Regarding the August 28 card, trainer Hugo F. Costantino and Diosa Beach (Treasure Beach), who ran in the first race, were provisionally suspended, along with Fabian Adrian Gutierrez and Jugador Top (Winning Prize), who competed in the thirteenth race.

The remaining two measures applied to Carlos Andres Vigil and Un Infierno (Dabster), following the second race on August 31, and to Victor H. Pereyra and Josseph Texan (Nashville Texan), after the tenth race on that card.

The suite of rulings once again shines a spotlight on medication control procedures and their sporting fallout, with Garufa Mask representing the highest-profile case given its occurrence in black-type company.

For now, the scope announced remains limited to provisional suspensions for the trainers and horses involved; the final outcome of each file will be determined through subsequent official rulings.