Trainer Marcus Vitali, inactive running horses in New York after being suspended by the New York Racing Association in 2021 and reaching a confidential settlement agreement with NYRA in 2022, has entered Crossed Sabres Farm's Classy Lass in the fifth race at Aqueduct Racetrack May 23.
"Marcus Vitali has satisfied the terms of the NYRA settlement agreement reached in 2022 and is licensed to participate in racing activities by the New York State Gaming Commission. As such, he is currently permitted to enter races on the NYRA circuit," said NYRA vice president of communications Pat McKenna in a statement.
NYRA operates New York's major tracks.
The trainer's agreement with NYRA was a multiyear ban, a source told BloodHorse in 2022. In September of last year, the trainer submitted to the NYSGC "the information necessary to be eligible to participate," according to NYSGC director of communications Brad Maione. Maione did not elaborate on the basis for Vitali's licensing but wrote in an email that the "license application is under review." He did not respond with what that review would encompass.
Vitali, who has had numerous violations and suspensions over his training career, last ran a horse at a NYRA track in July 2021 at Saratoga Race Course, which sparked criticism of his participation there. NYRA scheduled him to appear before a hearing officer in the spring of 2022, but Vitali's hearing was delayed, and a settlement agreement was reached.
In its statement of charges it previously issued against Vitali, NYRA cited that from 2010-20, Vitali amassed an extensive record of medication violations, lengthy suspensions, improperly using "program" or "paper" trainers during suspensions, and obstructing an investigation into alleged wrongdoing.
Vitali's violations resulted in multiple regulator-issued suspensions, one of which contributed to him not having a starter from July 21, 2019, until Jan. 4, 2021.
As essentially a state actor, NYRA has in recent years needed to follow strict procedures to ensure due process before prohibiting a licensee from participating.
A multiple graded stakes-winning trainer with 958 career victories, Vitali's starters have sharply decreased since his return to racing in early 2021.
Since October of that year, Vitali has had one published medication violation according to data posted on Thoroughbredrulings.com and a search of the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit website. His trainee, Yankee Dollar, was disqualified from first and placed last for the presence of the Class C controlled medication betamethasone in her system after a race Oct. 5, 2023, at Presque Isle Downs. Vitali was also fined $500.
All of his starters this year have come at Turf Paradise in Arizona. Last year, he also ran horses at Colonial Downs, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort, Presque Isle Downs, Thistledown, and Turf Paradise.
Classy Lass, entered to race Friday in a $30,000, nonwinners-of-three claimer, recorded her most recent workout at Hawthorne Park in Illinois, where Vitali told Daily Racing Form he has 10 horses currently stabled. The trainer does not have horses stabled full-time in New York, nor does he plan to stable there.
"I don't have a lot of stock that fits New York, maybe two or three," Vitali told Daily Racing Form.
