[Dunbar]

I took it to mean Belmont Stakes fields, but KG's interpretation is certainly possible.

Here's the entire paragraph from the Associated Press story that ran in both my local papers (which in itself, is pretty amazing and a tribute to the Rags to Riches effect.)

"It's one of the stronger fields we've had in the three years I've been here," New York Racing Association president Charles Hayward said. "It's a compact field of seven but you have to give a lot of horses a shot. That makes it a great race with a very accomplished field."

I think it was just a verbal goof up. I've made my share of those. I only mentioned it because I thought it was an amusing one.

--Dunbar