John,

Careful there. I've taken it on the chin for "conspiracy theories" as recently as today in private messages concerning this BC and BB topic. Some interesting reading in this link, Horseman's Information Guide.

https://members.breederscup.com/doc%20repository/other/hig.pdf

Pages 16-17 and pages 88-115 might be of interest. Also, several phone numbers from key figures here if interested in asking more questions of people involved here.

From page 16:

[b]Breeders’ Cup Condition of Entry
As a condition of entry for any BCWC race, no horse within six months of the BCWC shall test positive for any anabolic steroid or any other prohibited substance described under the ARCI prohibited substance list. Any horse testing positive for anabolic steroids or other ARCI prohibited substances in a BCL out-of-competition test sample during the six-months prior to the BCWC will be ineligible to participate in BCWC.[/b]

On a likely unrelated note, did I see a trainer with potentially 3 horses for the Classic just return from LONG layoffs since the 1. Pegasus (Jan), 2. Dubai World Cup (March), and 3. San Felipe (March). Would they have been tested say 3 months ago since they weren't racing (not in "training" possibly?) and unlikely to make the BC given they weren't racing since at least March??

Very interesting time as BC approaches. More and more horses dropping out, coming in off layoffs, coming in off a single prep, and running really poor before the big dance. Hmmm, quite the chess match being played here by many, many trainers it seems.