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.