Carlos Lugo

In the news plenty recently for cracking down on clenbuterol violations with out-of-competition testing, suspending a jockey over a suspected betting coup and overseeing the successful installation of a third, synthetic surface at Gulfsteam Park, 1/ST Racing's Chief Operations Officer Aidan Butler is making a name for himself in the industry as a proactive, no-nonsense executive. Wednesday, he joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week to discuss all of those recent stories, the improved safety record at Santa Anita, long-term plans...

Minutes after another easy win by Letruska (Super Saver), this time in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. Sunday at Keeneland, trainer Fausto Gutierrez told reporters that the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff, and not the GI Breeders' Cup Classic, would be next for his 5-year-old mare. That was hardly a surprise. Gutierrez and German Larrea, the Mexican billionaire businessman who owns the horse, are looking to play it safe. Letruska is simply better than every other filly and mare in the sport and shouldn't have any problem winning the Distaff. The...

Gulfstream Park stewards have suspended jockey Carlos Lugo for 30 calendar days for failing to persevere when riding Princess Tereska (Gone Astray) in the track's fourth race on Oct. 3. The 4-year-old maiden claimer was fourth, beaten 3/4 of a length for third, at 4-1. Click for replay. Lugo, who was 10 for 200 (5%) for the year heading into Friday's card while riding exclusively at Gulfstream, will begin serving his suspension on Monday, Oct. 11. The stewards said they will continue investigating the race in question.