From JB's review

"The only horse who got a top racing on the rail on the backstretch, second turn and stretch was Thunderello. Among the horses who may have been compromised were Summer Colony, Santa Catarina, Whywhywhy, Dollar Bill, and Perfect Drift."

All of the horses named had other excuses besides dead rail. I loved Summer Colony, but I would accept your pre-race analysis that she may have been baked. Santa Catarina looked like a good bet to pair, but you could argue that she was a 2yo filly who just backed up off the top. Whywhywhy is a Mr. Greeley and a little suspect around two turns, also coming in off a pair of 4's, which are strong 2yo numbers. Dollar Bill ran a bunch of good ones (if memory serves about three or four 1-2's) and may have just thrown an off race. As for Perfect Drift, having seen him run like crap with my eminently logical money on his back before, his poor performance illustrates nothing to me.

Are these implausible explanations that have less currency than "dead rail"? Tough call, I would think, and I sure you gave it plenty of consideration. Thunderello was ripping, and that looked like evidence (big time) to the contrary to me. Sign me, curious (yellow). HP