Originally Posted by oracle80

This is the same exact substance(mepivicaine) that Pletcher is fighting a 45 day suspension for and that Dutrow got a suspension for. Its absurd to give him 6 months, ridiculous to say the least. Its a local anesthetic. Its used in dental work(which horses do have) and after giving a horse stitches. Todd is about the sharpest guy I know of in the game and Asmussen is right there next to him. Everybody with a brain knows that the "caine" family is the easiest drug family out there to test for. Its presence even in minute doses is detectable in testing. Several trainers fought against suspensions for cocaine in the 90's and won. It was contamination most likely caused by grooms who had been using. Everyone is aware of how sensitive "caine" drugs are and when you are talking about Pletcher, Asmussen, and Dutrow you are talking about three guys that I can assure you are extremely intelligent. I know two and have talked to the other and these guys are not idiots and would NEVER give a caine family member to their horses on purpose. Its also simply not something you would ever give a horse to "hop" him. Its absurd. Asmussens's case is most likely no different than Pletchers or Dutrows in that I would guess it was caused by stitches given to teh horse and having the substance linger in the system in small amounts. As far as Ace goes, everyone uses it. Its a tranq that is given often to horses. Again, it probably lingered past the number of days it usually leaves the system, and as Stev says, why the **** would you give a tranq to "hop" a horse, thats just insane.
Asmussen is getting the shaft here. And now like with the Pletcher and Dutrow postives we will be treated to nitwits crying "I told you he juices"!!! all over the internet and in the papers. Of course the folks who yell loudest and most often will be the folks who know as much about medication and training as I do about rocket science, not a whole lot.