Derby Toss Outs

[Michael D.]

i think part of the success of guys like pletcher and mclaughlin can be traced to their quarter horse training connections. horse racing has become a game of crank em up and spit em out. starting with lucas, and continuing through baffert and pletcher, the guys who are willing to train all kinds of speed into horses, then just put them out there and see how far they can run are the guys who have dominated. but i surely understand your concern. when i saw the assmussen filly go 1:20 and change this summer at saratoga, i had immediate suspicions. the guys who think this sport is clean are definitely fooling themselves.
the problem with the whole drug mess is that guys who are doing things the right way, and are doing very well, are immediately under suspicion. if i were pletcher (and i was clean, which i think he is, but can\'t be sure), i would be out there calling for tougher drug testing immediately.....i will take a look at the FG race on fri night. looks like it is coming up awful tough.

[jbelfior]

Michael D---

Of the guys I mention in my prior post, I can honestly say that the only one whom I may be completely off base with is PLETCHER.

My suspicions with him have more to do with some of the horses in his barn mysteriously dying last year than the dramatic performance rating improvements that occur with the rest of my list.

As cynical as i can be, I actually thought that LADY TAK\'S race was legit. I think 7f is her optimum distance and SARATOGA tends to yield some unbelievable performances within the stakes ranks going that distance.

Anyway, I think I\'ve pounded this topic enough. Good luck with the FG race.


Joe B.

[Chuckles_the_Clown2]

Lukas has had a couple positives. I can recall one for cocaine. Oh, I know, \"Why would a trainer give his horse cocaine\"? I don\'t know. I don\'t know why they give them EPO and steroids either, but I suspect its to win.

Lukas has chewed up and spit out more good horses than 100 trainers of integrity could ever hope to  have. He use to dominate the sales. I think the major market players just wised up to his \"numbers\" game. He\'s still got 19 nominees this year, but hes slumming now for the most part.

http://www.horse-races.net/library/tc04-nomsbytrainer.htm (I checked out his horses, if they mature for the Derby on time it won\'t be masterful horsemanship)

He\'s rarely in on the big horses anymore. I believe that even Bev and Bob Lewis only send him a token few out of regard for Charismatic.

Did you guys forget the \"master horsemen\" ran Charismatic for a tag? Did you forget the Proud Citizen jump ups? Did you forget how he\'s ran every horse he\'s ever had into the ground but for the exception of Cat Thief? Anyone want to take a guess at whether Azeri ever starts for Lukas?

This guy was the biggest shill in the game and cared squat for his animals. If you think he isn\'t playing foot loose and fancy free with the regulations you\'re dreaming.