HIWU Sanctions Will Change Placings in Franklin Stakes

The Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit announced sanctions Dec. 17 in a resolved case against owner-trainer Stuart Williams after his horse, Pandora's Gift (IRE), tested positive for the controlled medication gabapentin after a third-place finish in the Franklin Stakes (G2T) Oct. 13 at Keeneland. As part of the sanctions, Pandora's Gift will be disqualified from that third-place finish. That will result in fourth-place Stone Silent being promoted to third. Williams will be suspended for seven days beginning Dec. 18, fined $1,000, and see two penalty points assigned to his name. As an owner, he'll lose out on the $27,375 in purse money Pandora's Gift would have earned in the Franklin. An FDA-approved medication, gabapentin, an aminobutyric acid analogue (GABA), is used in humans to reduce the excitability of nerve cells in the brain that play a role in seizures and to relieve nerve pain. In horses it's used to reduce pain. Williams trained Pandora's Gift to a 4-1-1 record in Europe from seven starts, including a win in the Chelmer Fillies Stakes. He took over ownership when the horse was shipped to North America this year. The 3-year-old daughter of Churchill (IRE) finished second in the Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) in September before her run in the Franklin. Stone Silent, who is campaigned by Victoriam Farm and trained by Brian Lynch, secures her first graded stakes placing with the change in order. The 4-year-old daughter of Adios Charlie has won four listed stakes, including this year's Ladies' Turf Sprint Stakes at Gulfstream Park.