Michael Iavarone, co-president and founder of the IEAH Stable that owns Triple Crown contender Big Brown, yesterday responded to several recent press reports that he was fined and suspended for making unauthorized trades at the A.R. Baron & Co. brokerage firm in the 1990s.

“It’s ‘breaking news’ about something that’s been public for 14-15 years,” said Iavarone, 37, a lifelong Long Islander. “I was 22 years old then. When I was 16, I took some money from my father’s wallet. I guess they don’t know about that.”

Wednesday, Iavarone rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.