The Milkshake Mask Effect

[derby1592]

I seem to recall that the funny part of this was Bob Baffert\'s pretty lame excuse. He said that the violation was due to a mixup caused by confusion over the difference in the allowable limits between racing jurisdictions (CA and Louisiana).

What he failed to mention (or understand or both) was that the limit was HIGHER in Louisiana (where Kafwain tested positive) than it was in CA (his home base where Kafwain had been running prior to the positive test) and that Kafwain was over both limits regardless (as Dick Powell pionts out). So it was pretty hard to see how such confusion could have had anything to do with the positive test but maybe I am just too cynical when it comes to drugs in racing...

Chris

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

Chris, I don\'t remember the story, but the defense sounds similar to the Shuman defense. However, lets assume his vet knew he could give Kafwain more of the substance in Louisiana and did give him more. A difference in dissipation rates with more substance administered could explain the mixup and that on its face seems consistent with what Baffert said.

I was never high on Kafwain for the Derby. drugs or no drugs. He looked sprinty to me from the beginning and I don\'t think 50 nanograms of go go juice was going to get him the Derby. Which is not to say 7 nanograms over a threshold is permissible. Its an edge. It puts a trainer in a better position than other trainers without the betting public being congnizant of it. That is unacceptable. The penalties in these \"threshold\" cases are graduated. They are graduated of course, because the substance is permissible within certain parameters. Baffert undoubtedly paid a fine and justifiably had his purse forfeited. The La Derby was an expensive lesson for him and thats the way it should be.

If I had my way. Horses would race on Hay and Oats. No permissible limits of anything. You can still treat them, but if you do they don\'t race until its all out of their system. I think if they got \"back\" to that, you\'d see breeding focus on the animal and not the conditions.

Ctc



Post Edited (02-17-05 11:19)

[TGJB]

Deb, the part where Rick Arthur says, FOR PUBLICATION, that Canani \"assured us it was a mistake and that there will be no further problems from his barn\" is a laugh riot. Or not.

Well, just so long as he assured you.