Harder suspended 30 days

Trainer Mark Harder has received a 30-day suspension and $500 fine after a positive test on his horse, 2005 Indiana Sire Stakes champion Alittlemore Action, at Harrah's Chester Downs Oct. 16. Harder received the penalties from the Pennsylvania State Harness Racing Commission after Alittlemore Action tested positive for the Class 4 drugs Dihydroergocornine, Dihydroergocryptine and Dihydroergocristine following a 1:54.4 win in a $10,500 winners-over pace for fillies and mares.

Harder's suspension is scheduled to run Dec. 7 through Jan. 5, pending any appeal he may file.

According to the American Heart Association website, the drugs are used in humans in the treatment of various afflictions such as Alzheimer Disease, Parkinson Disease and memory disorders. In part, the website states “the drug has had an (potential) effect, probably on the neurovascular apparatus. This effect could be demonstrated for many hours and is, therefore, of considerable therapeutic interest.”

Alittlemore Action was trained last year at three by Brooke Nickells. The daughter of Electric Yankee finished second in the $100,000 Indiana Sire Stakes final at Hoosier Park and later won the $83,350 Sire Stakes final at Indiana Downs. She was purchased last February by British Columbia-based owner Robert Murphy and sent to Harder.

Trainer Robert Hayden also received a similar fine and suspension after his horse Befuddle Hanover tested positive for the same three drugs on the same day at Harrah's Chester Downs. Trainer Joseph Skowyra was handed the same penalties for the same positives on his horse Wicked Rhymes Oct. 19 at Harrah's Chester Downs.

Trainer Carmine Fusco received a 30-day suspension and $1,000 fine for the same positives on three different horses on Oct. 12 and Oct. 15: Mitey Mike Morgan, Shakti and Tasma Walton A.

And trainer Dottie Morone was fined $1,000 for a positive for Diclofenac on the horse Liviosa Nov. 4 at Harrah's Chester Downs.

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