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There may be many familiar faces taking “forced vacations” this summer in the world of horse racing.

Big Brown trainer Richard Dutrow was given a 15 day suspension by Kentucky racing officials after Salute the Count tested positive for an excessive amount of clenbuterol after finishing second in the Aegon Turf Sprint (G3) at Churchill Downs on May 2.

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By my count, this is the 13th drug positive for a horse that Dutrow has run.

Steve Asmussen may also be sitting on the sidelines soon. Timber Trick, a maiden winner trained by Asmussen tested positive for lidocaine after a win at Lone Star Park on May 10.

Asmussen served a six month suspension that started in June 2006 for drug positives in Louisiana and New Mexico.

Texas has a no tolerance policy and lidocaine is a Class 2 drug and considered a performance enhancer. He could be looking at another six months.

At Delaware Park, Eight Belles trainer Larry Jones had a horse test positive for the bronchial dilator clenbuterol.

Could Bruce Levine be joining the club soon?

His entire barn at Monmouth Park was tested for EPO at the bequest of the New Jersey Racing Commission, who is calling this testing “random.”

Levine has won 27 races with just 56 starters, making the surprise testing sure look like something other than random.

Toss in the jockey Jeremy Rose six month suspension for excessive use of the whip, and it has not been a very good week for horse racing.

It will be interesting to see how these stories play out over the next week or two, particularly in the mainstream media.

To purchase my full card reports for Churchill Downs and Belmont Park that includes analysis, selections, fair odds, recommendations for today click here.

Here is today's opener from Churchill Downs to get our day off to a good start:

CD Race 1 Md Sp Wt (2:45 et)
#1 Cognito 8/5
#6 Precious Beans 5/2
#4 Proud Jefe 3/1
#5 Vaquero 10/1

Analysis: #1 Cognito is a $700K Keeneland purchase making his debut for Asmussen barn that is 19% winners with first time starters. The colt is by Langfuhr (11% winners with debut runners) out of a Rubiano mare that has dropped five foals to race, four winners including a pair of stakes winners, top earner Cool Coal Man ($349K). Not crazy about the rail draw but not too crazy about any of the five foes he faces here either.

#6 Precious Beans pressed the early pace, dropped back in mid stretch and came again late to finish gamely, beaten 3/4 of a length for the top spot. Was off poorly in his debut at Calder, checking in sixth in a highly graded race in which the winner, third, and fourth place finishers all came back to win next out.

Wagering
WIN: #1 to win at 8/5 or better.
EX: 1,6 / 1,4,6
TRI: no play

Today’s Featured Race From Belmont Park:

BEL Race 8 Alw $50,000s (6:36 et)
#4 House Guest 7/2
#5 Bella Attrice 4/1
#3 Anxiety 3/1
#1 Empress Indy 15/1

Analysis: #4 House Guest drew off smartly to beat $35K non winners of two last out by better than eight lengths. She was a good second two back going a mile so she looks capable of handling the stretch back out to two turns. She has jumped up in a big way in two starts since DiPrima took her at the claim box for just $10K three back.

#5 Bella Attrice was a good second last out against state bred Alw-1 foes after ground saving trip in her first start off the claim by Brown. She beat $35K non winners of two in her previous start and has landed in the exacta in 7 of her 15 career starts on the grass. She is reunited with Kent who was aboard for her win two back.

Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 5/2 or better.
EX: 4,5 / 1,3,4,5
TRI: 4,5 / 1,3,4,5 / 1,3,4,5,8

Today’s Featured Race From Churchill Downs:

CD Race 7 Clm $40,000 (5:52 et)
#2 Justice for Auston 5/1
#8 Chief What It Is 5/1
#7 Speak of Kings 2/1
#6 Cielo Song 5/2

Analysis: #2 Justice for Auston stalked the early pace from the inside and did not have enough punch in the stretch, checking in third for this tag. The nine year old appears to have lost a step or two from his younger days, as he has landed in the exacta 22 times in 44 trips at today's D/S. Perhaps third time off the bench will be the charm.

#8 Chief What It Is set the early fractions and was caught late, coming up a head shy of the top spot versus $50K foes. The gelding is winless in seven trips on the weeds but looks back on track after failing to fire two and three back. Theriot sticks for low profile barn.

Wagering
WIN: #2 to win at 3/1 or better.
EX: 2,8 / 2,6,7,8
TRI: 2,8 / 2,6,7,8 / 2,3,6,7,8

Live Longshots: These are price plays for exotic players looking to find a couple of extra contenders to use in their trifecta and superfecta wagers. Or for those with smaller bankrolls, you might want to get in a small win-place wager.

Belmont Park
R3: #3 In for a Dime 10/1
R6: #3 Milk Run 15/1
R8: #1 Empress Indy 15/1

Churchill Downs
R1: #5 Vaquero 10/1
R2: #5 Truimps Approval 10/1
R4: #8 Fontazia 10/1
R5: #6 Carsons Regal Lady 15/1
R5: #1 Aphrodisiac 10/1
R6: #2 Goldwrapinsilver 8/1
R8: #7 Shoot It 8/1
R11: #7 Senorita’s Secrets 10/1
R11: #5 Ellie’s Buddha 15/1

Good luck today!