Trainer John Sadler has been caught and fined numerous times.
Occam’s razor. With two choices, the explantion that requires the fewest assumptions is the correct one. On that basis, the idea that some unknown entity has an organised campaign to consistently ensure BB’s horses fail drug tests across multiple state jurisdictions has too many improbable assumptions, leaving us with the simplest explanation that he is doping his own horses. As to his arrogance or stupidity, well, how many criminals ever believe they will be caught for their crimes? Added to which, BB has apparently ‘got away with it’ - five times.
Sadly, I believe this sorry saga will end in the usual flannel, compromise and whitewash by the racing authorities and in the law courts, BB will continue on his merry way, and the reputation of TB racing will sink even lower in public opinion. In the longer term, American TB breeding will suffer if the Kentucky Derby is nolonger a valid performance benchmark. Tawdry.
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Sources and, it would appear, certainly not as newsworthy as Mr Baffert 
leave politics out of it
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I’m not so sure. the racing court in Kentucky seem genuinely pissed that this has occurred. Especially after Gamine’s test last year and they essentially let him off the hook with a slap on the wrist. Kentucky changed their rules within the last year and now the biggest horse on the worlds biggest stage just tested positive: It put’s a giant black eye on their beloved race and the entire sport for all to see. This is much worse than Gamine’s 3rd place finish positive last year. It’s international news and on everyone’s TV every night
If I were Bob Baffert I would save face and stop talking to the media and his lawyer needs to advise him to stop speaking. He is only putting the nail further in the coffin at this point and he’s making himself sound like an absolute idiot. This morning Medina Spirit is apparently a victim a cancel-culture. I am anti cancel culture and even I think this recent statement is a load of horse 
. Get it together Bob
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What I want to know, is why wouldn’t BB & the Vet be aware of the ingredients in the ointment.
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I call bullshit. At this level, you know what’s in everything you use on your horse, or you’re just stupid.
Nice excuse, though. 
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I’ve seen the supposed quote elsewhere, but I’ve been unable to find the actual interview in which BB made that statement.
So I’m curious if it was taken out of context or assumed that was what BB meant.
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Otomax is labeled as an ear treatment for dogs. It’s similar in formulation to a number of other formulas, but I’ve never heard of it used off-label as a topical for horse dermatitis. There are plenty of products for this purpose. A professional horseman would know such products contain steroids and antifungals and likely would test.
I call BS, Bob.
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It would not surprise me if someone used Otomax off-label for that purpose, but it is a pretty flimsy excuse.
A big part of the trainer’s job is to know what is going into and onto a horse.
And it is right there on the label.
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A good statement would be, “I don’t know how that would have gotten into the horse and I await the B sample.”
This flailing all around at “Stuff that might be in my horse I dunno because I really don’t pay much attention to how my staff and veterinarians handle and care for my Derby contender” seems… a poor way to protect one’s reputation.
And if he saying someone did use that ointment on the horse, then yes the horse should be set down regardless of the B sample, no?
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Baffert is the king of flimsy excuses.
For anyone who hasn’t been following his antics, this is not his first drug positive followed by a litany of “aw shucks” excuses. It’s his MO.
Justify: jimson weed in feed, hay, and straw
Charlatan and Gamine: the assistant trainer was wearing a lidocaine patch on his back
Mernieth: the groom had covid (yet was still working) and was using cough syrup
Medina Spirit: the grooms are peeing in the stalls
You know what other trainers have these problems? None of them. Not even the ones operating larger yet equally successful stables.
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His new excuse may just work in his favor. If you google “which medications have betamethasone” the first 15 listings are for 'skin conditions, psoriasis, fungal infections, etc.
Someone came up w/ this brilliant response and track people are known for using things off label if they think it might work.
But even I know Otomax= Ear problems.
Could the use of the ointment have been used as a ruse to cover up injections of betamethasone? By that, I mean he used both? This may be a reach, but his previous violations and excuses make me very distrustful of him.
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That, combined with the fact that he didn’t think this horse would/could win…? Quite plausible. I just don’t buy that no one looked at the ingredients before putting something on a horse aimed for the Derby to make sure there were no banned substances in it.
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I agree the people in charge of the horse should read an ingredient label! Anyone who shows in a USEF/USDF competition is aware random testing occurs. I am familiar with what is allowed and what is not and I’m a nobody. Someone as high profile as Baffert should know, as well as his vets and staff.
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i really think that someone put on their creative thinking cap and googled what I said above.
And it worked. I’d want proof of that dermatitis on his rump. And I’d want the groom that used it to take a lie detector test. Or the vet that prescribed it. Or both.
If the racing commission acted like criminal detectives they could easily get to the bottom of these ‘lies’ or mistruths.
But I suspect that won’t happen and BB slides again.
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Ask whoever applied that creme for a blood test, see how much is still there? 
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Daily Racing Form’s Facebook has some pictures from Barbara Livingston that show the alleged dermatitis on the 25th of April and today. The pictures from April 25th don’t look like a major dermatitis issue (and I know what those can be like, my mare had a bad case once and lost hair all over her stomach).
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I think you may be correct. This new “evidence” comes up a week later? Oh yes, said Baffert, we forgot about the anti-fungal ointment. Duh.
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