Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING
Respondent: MARCUS JON VITALI
Judges: BRITTANY O. FINKBEINER
Agency: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Dec. 06, 2019
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
Latest Update: Jan. 18, 2025
FILED
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Deputy Agency Clerk
CLERK Evetle Lawson-Proctor
Date 5/31/2019
STATE OF FLORIDA File #
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION,
DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING,
Petitioner,
DBPR Case No.: 2019-021736
vs.
MARCUS JON VITALI,
Respondent.
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel
Wagering (“Petitioner”), files this Administrative Complaint against Marcus Jon Vitali
(“Respondent”) and alleges as follows:
1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating pari-mutuel wagering pursuant
to chapter 550, Florida Statutes.
2. At all times material hereto, Respondent held a Pari-Mutuel Wagering Professional
Individual Occupational License, number 8591293-1021, issued by Petitioner
3. Atall times material hereto, Respondent was the trainer of record of the racing horse
“Themanbehindtheman,” with tattoo number S03183.
4. — On or about March 23, 2019, “Themanbehindtheman” participated in the 11th race
of the performances at Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino (“Gulfstream Park”).
5. On or about March 23, 2019, “Themanbehindtheman” finished in Ist place in the
11th race of the performances at Gulfstream Park.
6. At all times material hereto, Gulfstream Park was a facility operated by a
permitholder authorized to conduct pari-mutuel wagering in this state under chapter 550, Florida
Statutes.
7. On or about March 23, 2019, an employee of Petitioner collected urine sample
number 916213 from “Themanbehindtheman.”
8. Urine sample number 916213 was processed and forwarded to the University of
Florida Racing Laboratory (“UF Lab”), for anatysis.
9. The UF Lab tested urine sample number 916213 and found that it contained
albuterol, which is a bronchodilator and Class III drug under the Uniform Classification
Guidelines for Foreign Substances as promulgated by the Association of Racing Commissioners
International, Inc.
10. Albuterol was detected at a concentration of 2.94 +/- 0.05 ng/mL in urine sample
number 916213.
11. Pursuant to section 550.2415(1)(a), Florida Statutes (2018):
The racing of an animal that has been impermissibly medicated or
determined to have a prohibited substance present is prohibited. It
is a violation of this section for a person to impermissibly medicate
an animal or for an animal to have a prohibited substance present
resulting in a positive test for such medications or substances based
on samples taken from the animal before or immediately after the
racing of that animal.
12. According to Rule 61D-6.008(2)(b), Florida Administrative Code (2018), albuterol
detected at a urinary concentration greater than 1 ng/mL is prohibited.
13. Section 550.2415(t)(c), Florida Statutes, states “[t]he finding of a prohibited
substance in a race-day specimen constitutes prima facie evidence that the substance was
administered and was carried in the body of the animal while participating in the race.”
2019-021736 Page 2 of 5
14. Rule 61D-6.002(1), Florida Administrative Code, provides “[t]he trainer of record
shall be responsible for and be the absolute insurer of the condition of the horses...he/she enters
to race.”
15. Based on the foregoing, Respondent violated section 550.2415(1)(a), Florida
Statutes, and Rule 61D-6.008(2)(b), Florida Administrative Code, by racing
“Themanbehindtheman” with an impermissible concentration of a permissible substance in its
body on or about March 23, 2019.
WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests the Division enter an Order imposing
against Respondent one or more of the penalties specified in Rule 61D-6.011, Florida
Administrative Code, section 550.2415(3)(a), Florida Statutes, and/or any other relief that the
Division is authorized to impose pursuant to chapter 550, Florida Statutes, and/or the rules
promulgated thereunder.
This Administrative Complaint for DBPR Case Number 2019-021736 is signed this 29th
day of May, 2019.
‘S/ James A. Lewis [s/ Megan S. Silver
JAMES A. LEWIS MEGAN S. SILVER
Deputy Chief Attorney Chief Attorney
Florida Bar No. 1002349 Florida Bar No. 115518
James.Lewis@MyFloridaLicense.com Megan. Silver@MyFloridaLicense.com
Office of the General Counsel
Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1035
Telephone: (850) 717-1585
Facsimile: (850) 921-1311
2019-021736 Page 3 of 5
NOTICE OF RIGHTS TO REQUEST A HEARING
Pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, you have the right to request a
hearing to challenge the charges contained in this Administrative Complaint. If you choose to
request a hearing, you will have the right to be represented by counsel, or other qualified
representative, to present evidence and argument, to call and cross-examine witnesses, and to
have subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued on your behalf.
Any request for an administrative proceeding to challenge or contest the charges
contained in this Administrative Complaint must conform to Rule 28-106.2015, Florida
Administrative Code. Pursuant to Rule 28-106.111, Florida Administrative Code, you must
request a hearing within 21 days from receipt of this Notice, or you will waive your right to
request a hearing.
Mediation under section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not available to resolve this
Administrative Complaint.
NOTICE OF RIGHT TO REQUEST A SPLIT SAMPLE
Pursuant to Rule 61D-6.006, Florida Administrative Code, you have the right to request a
split sample with respect to each “Report of Positive Result” from the UF Lab. (Copy attached as
Exhibit “A”). To request a split sample, use Form DBPR PMW-3290, Notification_to
Stewards/Judge of Split Sample Request (Form 3290).
You can obtain Form 3290, as well as a list of approved split samples laboratories, at the
State Office located in any Florida pari-mutuel facility, or on the Division’s website:
www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pmw/forms.html. You must submit Form 3290 to the state
steward, Division hearing officer, or office of the General Counsel, within 10 days from receipt
of this Notice, or you will waive your right to request a split sample.
2019-021736 Page 4 of 5
EXHIBIT A
/ “+ 04-29-19501: 14PM; : pare B/D HG. , 916213
: UF FORIL of a
FLORIDA vaniman HEMANR EM MOTREHAL
of Medicine COLOR a oo sex @ ace _Y¥
Depeseent of Putelogy, Isusunology and Laboratory Med: :
oa 7
Mr, Louls Trombatta, Director
Obision of Part-Mutuel Wagering
Ospartment of Businass and-Profeselonal Regulation
2601 Siair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL $2899-1037
LICENSE NUMBER
Re: Boport of Positive Renu taTTOO NUMBER. 4
_ Sample 916213 has been analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem inase se pactrmdi, RR SE ong Hi asd
to contain the following:
albuterol found in urine
abuterol (a bronchodilator and class 3 drug) - the concentration of albuterol is 2.64 4/- 0.08 ng/mL,
poe24se-FHU Horse Urine 73.59 INTACT
Laboratory Number Specimen Final Weight See!
Guitstream Park 03/28/2019 03/26/2019
Collected From Date Colected Date Received
Pursuant to Chapter 580.2416 (1), F.S., the public disclosure of the information contained in this Report of
Postive Result 1s authorized on or alter 05/02/2019, or upon commencement of administrative action, whichever
Occurs x
Cynthia Cole, ps PhD - Brooke Neison
Director
Chemist Il
==
: Smee | Page 1 oft 19-192
The Foundation for The Gator Nation
‘An Equal Opportunity Inatieution
2019-021736 Page 5 of 5
Docket for Case No: 19-006426PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
May 26, 2020 |
Order Closing Files and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
May 21, 2020 |
Joint Motion to Relinquish Jurisdiction filed.
|
May 15, 2020 |
Order Rescheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for June 30 through July 2, 2020; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
|
May 13, 2020 |
Joint Status Report filed.
|
Apr. 13, 2020 |
Order Granting Continuance (parties to advise status by May 13, 2020).
|
Apr. 09, 2020 |
Joint Motion to Continue filed.
|
Feb. 12, 2020 |
Notice of Serving Response to Division's First Request for Admissions filed.
|
Jan. 27, 2020 |
Order Granting Continuance and Rescheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for April 20 through 22, 2020; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Jan. 27, 2020 |
Joint Motion to Continue Final Hearing filed.
|
Dec. 27, 2019 |
Respondent's Notice of Serving First Request for Admission, First Request for Production, and First Set of Interrogatories filed.
|
Dec. 16, 2019 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Dec. 16, 2019 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for February 12 through 14, 2020; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Dec. 11, 2019 |
Order of Consolidation (DOAH Case Nos. 19-6408, 19-6425, 19-6426, 19-6427)
|
Dec. 06, 2019 |
Initial Order.
|
Dec. 06, 2019 |
Election of Rights filed.
|
Dec. 06, 2019 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Dec. 06, 2019 |
Agency referral filed.
|