Originally Posted by Betsy

I don't think Bernardini will run in the Haskell, but your point is well taken, Cunningham. To be honest, I'm getting very frustrated because it seems as if Barbaro has the 3 year old Eclipse wrapped up before even half the season is over. Writers like Steve Haskin (who loves Bernardini) are saying that Bernardini will have to win the Travers (agreed), a big fall race (Jockey Club?) AND the Classic in order to win the Eclipse. IMO, that's unfair and I don't get it. If Bernardini wins the Travers and a race against older horses and say, runs well in the Classic, how has his year not been better than Barbaro? Right now, Barbaro has won the Holy Bull, Florida Derby and KY Derby. Bernardini has won the Preakness and Withers. The Withers/Holy Bull cancel each other out, so Bernardini is one grade 1 behind Barbaro. The Travers is more prestigious by far than the Florida Derby, and races against older horses speak for themselves. I agree that Barbaro has the edge now (Bernardini still has to do it on the track, no matter how confident I am in his ability), but I think it would be a travesty for Bernardini (for example -but same applies to, say, Jazil) to lose the Eclipse because of sentiment. The voters are human, though, and they love Barbaro.