the overages are strange
Certain trainers, owners, vets, teams... (and Baffert being one of the most prominent, in the spotlight), do a great job with having horses in top condition, with muscle mass, vigor, and with exceptional stamina in spite of exertion.
Some feel this is due to undetectable PEDs, while others feel it is most or all because of great training, and great stock from high class breeding and big pockets.
Those trainers/etc..., have a 'competitive advantage'.
For Baffert that means a big salary and a lot of investment, and connections and a hot brand.
On the other hand, the 'detectable overages' do not tend to produce the above advantages on a significant scale.
(an oversimplified explanation of ) Detectable overages substances, is that they are better for getting a top performer through one given race. Dull some pain a bit. Calm an anxious or over-stimulated horse. Etc... The benefits of treating over the limit w/ such substances are more about not having to skip a big race with a contender who otherwise would need some time off.
Detectable overages are also ... 'detectable', so the punishment is greater (assuming your trainer doesn't have social media vids like Navarro, or 'jump the shark' like J.S. and feel the need to win 30% and juice every horse and have connections to a similar network of a reckless guy like Navarro)... Detectable substances get your name in the media, they question your integrity, you get on a list of # of total historic infractions 25 or whatever so far
...
It just seems weird and illogical to risk a detectable overage, when you have a multi-million dollar operation from another existing competitive advantage.
Can't tell if these are result of jurisdictions tightening previously loose testing, or a reckless trainer who believes he is too big for such guidelines when he has a star for a big client, or what...
doesn't seem to make a lot of sense, but I don't know everything about this
