Breeders Cup Testing

[hooper]

Got this message from the Breeders Cup today.


All horses in Breeeders\' Cup Championship races will undergo blood sampling (for TCO2 analysis) approximately 15-30 minutes prior to their departure for the paddock.  The top four finishers in each race, and any additional horses selected by the Stewards, will be diverted to the Test Barn for post-race drug testing.  All post race testing meets or exceeds the requirements established by TOBA\'s Graded Stakes Committee.

Please let me know if I amy be of additional assistance

Mary C. Scollay, DVM

Equine Medical Director
Kentucky Horse Racing Commission
4063 Iron Works Parkway, Building B
Lexington, KY 40511

[Bigredgoer]

Do we take this to mean that there will be no out of state random testing for EPA of the possible ship ins?  From what I have read, it was stated that EPA is much harder to detect in post race analysis...Any insight anyone..

[TGJB]

Doctor Scollay-- Appreciate the info. But with all due respect, that still leaves us having to trust the powers that be,which has not worked out great historically. It may be that what\'s being done will work, and if it does serious handicappers using serious data will be able to tell.

But until the hard information is being made public, the problem won\'t be solved. By hard information I mean the things I listed in my letter to the DRF a year ago--  who is being tested, for what drugs, how (what test), and what the actual reading was.

Here\'s what I know, and I use the word \"know\" advisedly.

1-- The last time the BC was held in Ky., the guy doing TCO2 tests quit early in the CD meet, and was not replaced. I know this because I made an inquiry at the time, a couple of weeks before the BC, through someone in an official capacity, as to whether the TCO2  test results could be published, and was told they could not, because they were not testing. I gave that info to a member of the press, and when he followed up they did not deny what had been happening, but told him they would be testing \"a few\' horses at the BC. Did they? Who the hell knows-- they didn\'t publish any results, just as they had not when they were not testing.

2-- I know for a fact that at least one TCO2 result WAY over the limit was buried in Ky. How? I made  a FOIL request. John Forgey did everything he could to not accede to the request, but when I brought a lawyer into it he gave us the  information. Sort of-- he gave us the readings for the period I asked for, but not the names of the horses, trainers, or dates (he pulled out an arcane Ky law and claimed that releasing that info would give someone a business advantage. My lawyer told me we could beat them on that if we pressed the issue, I decided not to for reasons of my own).

Anyway, in that list of numbers-- all they gave us-- was a reading of over 40 (a positive was around 37, 40 is a gigantic number, almost never happens). And you know what? During that time period--we only asked for a few months-- there was no-one sanctioned for a TCO2 positive in the state of Ky. How about that.

I can be reached at 212-741-3886 if you want to discuss this.

[Bigredgoer]

Excellent post Jerry....Thanks!...I would like to correct my earlier post..MY typo of EPA was intended to be EPO.

[Beginner]

So based on that, is there any good \"strategy\" to attempt to predict who\'s using the \"go-go\" juice?  Perhaps a review of the hot trainers in the 2006 BC at CD?

As a side note, anyone with an iPhone or iPad, highly recommend the Breeders Cup app.  Live video of the races, archive of all the BC races, lots of info neatly organized.  

Also noticed that Z is entered in the Ladies Classic and Classic - anyone think she\'s not running in the Classic?

[richiebee]

Beginner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
 
> Also noticed that Z is entered in the Ladies
> Classic and Classic - anyone think she\'s not
> running in the Classic?

As I mentioned a few weeks back, a Zenyatta win in the Ladies
and a win by someone other than Blame, QR or LAL in the Classic
would result in Zen being named Horse of the Year.

It would also result in me joining Jimbo in bashing Moss/Shireffs.

[jbelfior]

Richie:

Will bet with confidence against her in either race.

The Ladies Classic will probably lack pace and Z will be asked to close on the best fillies and  mares she has faced all season on conventional dirt at a track and distance with a strong bias to front and stalker types.


Good Luck,
Joe B.

[Sandreadis]

Joe B,
Here are the 1/2 mile chart positions of the last 4 winners of the Classic at CD.

Invasor  8/13
Awesome Again 8/10
Concern 14/14

Tiznow was 1/14

[jbelfior]

Sand:

I was referring to the 1 1/8 Ladies Classic distance.

As for the 1 1/4 Classic if anyone thinks Zenyatta can outkick Blame then I wish them luck! I do agree that the BC Classic will be won from someone coming from off the pace.


Good Luck,
Joe B.