If protocol had been followed, wouldn't the stewards or CHRB have placed a hold on the purse once the positive test was called? Had a hold been placed on the purse, it is hard to imagine that word would not have got out that some horse had tested positive in the Santa Anita Derby. This was how people became aware that a positive (Masochistic) had been called in the 2016 Breeders Cup Sprint.

Absolutely agree with you. My feeling is that it was just bad luck and nothing nefarious went on. I also know that in many instances, perception far outpaces reality and if people who are within the sport or even just fans like we are, are questioning the integrity of the process, I don’t see how this is in any way positive. It’s kinda like that scene when Detective Lieutenant Frank Dreben was standing in front of a fireworks store that was exploding all over the place and he was saying “there’s nothing to see here.”

Yup...the story is the coverup. If the CHRB did this for a scopolamine overage what else have they done?

It’s a bad look and the CHRB should own it.

Salient point. And there's a ton of pent up animosity towards it by West Coast stakeholders..

So now Putin is contaminating our hay fields.