First off, Kentucky agreed to cut off the suspect Rebate Shops after chewing the fat over it. Every once in a while its good to do the right thing isn't it Kentucky? You can always let them back when they reveal their practices.

But that was the minor issue. Now Kentucky its time to belly up to the bar and be men about this substance abuse. Its time to address the milkshake and doping. We want in Kentucky what they have in New York. A "no tolerance" policy. One positive and automatic stall security.

Heres a little blurb I found very interesting about EPO. Apparently two jurisdictions already have a "claim rescinding" option if the horse comes up postive for EPO. Another Arkansas just added an option for a claimed horse to be tested for EPO before the claim is official. Sounds very much like EPO is similar to Milkshaking "carbonates" in that it is a "naturally occuring" substance. That being the case "threshold testing" must be whats in place. It also sounds like the primary threat is heart attack due to thickening of the blood. If there are claim return thresholds, is it too much to ask to discipline the trainers at certain EPO thresholds? Why are we in the dark about the details?:

http://www.drf.com/news/article/62125.html

Most of my pre prep Derby favorites are at Oaklawn. Rockport, Afleet Alex, Greater Good (A horse I did not initially rate. I think he got beat in the Iroquois, perhaps with an excuse. He certainly was moving in big steps prior to that) Its going to be interesting how those races shake out down there, but my suspicion is should he stay sound Rockport is looking like a horse with a big future.

CtC