Mauricio J. Ortíz Suspended 12 Years at La Plata

The trainer received one of the harshest penalties in recent memory following Primer Amor’s positive test; Angel Piana was suspended six months in the Pripioca Mío case

Pripioca Mío tested positive following his most recent victory / JUAN I. BOZZELLO

LA PLATA.- Under the leadership of Antonio Rivero as President of the La Plata Racing Commission, disciplinary reports have once again become notable. In the latest report, two suspensions drew attention—both for the prominence of the individuals involved and, in one case, for the length of the penalty.

Following the detection of cocaine and Benzoylecgonine—a metabolite of the former—in tests taken from SPC Primer Amor (Manipulator) after finishing second in the first race on August 22, trainer Mauricio Javier Ortíz was handed a 12-year suspension, one of the harshest in recent memory. Ortíz will only be able to return to training on September 12, 2037, in addition to paying a fine equal to ten times the commission he would earn for winning a race for 5-year-old, one-win horses.

Primer Amor was disqualified and barred from racing for six months, until March 12, 2026. The stable El Tono, however, was not penalized.

Meanwhile, trainer Angel Piana—or one of his horses—was again suspended, this time following a positive test from Pripioca Mío (Lucky Island), who had prevailed in the first race on August 22. The substance detected was methylaminoantipyrine.

Given his prior infractions, Piana, a longtime leading trainer at La Plata, received a six-month suspension, preventing him from appearing in the race program until March 12, 2026, in addition to a fine.

Pripioca Mío was disqualified from the race and suspended for one month, until October 12, 2025.