Tim if you knew Todd you would say the same thing. I can assure you that he isn't just "smart" in terms of the racing game, hes just plain real smart period. No way would he jeopardize his reputation and income so he could win that 75 claimer. The owner of the 75 claimer was Coolmore. You telling me that Coolmore was sweating winning that race? Give me a break. Dutrow is his own worst enemy because of his attitude and demeanor at times. He is often referred to as a punk at the racetrack because he is ****y and hes not real good with the media because he tells it like it is and doesnt posture his responses to win favor. But he is really a brilliant guy and actually sensitive about how other trainers he respects feel about him.
These suspensions are a glaring example of whats wrong with testing and penalties these days. Its kinda like when Zito and Mott got suspensions for lidocaine(note that it was yet another caine family drug). Both trainers had horses with cracked feet and at the time the salve that most vets were using contained Lidocaine. So basically they treated cracked feet and got ten days. Shoot, all they did was take the salve that the vet gave them(vets dont come by every day to administer something so easy as that, groom rubs it on) and cut it off when the vet said to cut it off, and it lingered. Meanwhile someplace in America today a horse will improve ten lengths after being claimed last week and win off the screen and not test positive for anything. Great huh?