You simply cannot give the eclipse to anyone but Bernadini. He won a classic race, the Travers, and beat elders in the JCGC.
Many people, myself included, will always believe that Barbaro was definitely the more talented of the two and what he may have gone on to do, well all we will ever be able to do is speculate.
I will always think we got robbed of seeing a true great. The ease with which he won the Derby will always be the defining moment of the year to me.
But Bernadini can't be penalized for sympathy and might have beens. He stayed sound and accomplished what a three year old needs to accomplish to be a champion. You simply can't deny a horse who won the Preakness, Travers, and JCGC.