"Hall/Fame" Santos; Charm; Veitch

[philcski]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Well....He was a multiple Grade 1 winning 2yo....and Lava Man was running in maiden claiming races at the fair circuits at that time in his career.

Best Pal will have a hard time getting into the Hall of Fame because he never won any major stake races East of Arkansas...and he notoriously didn't fire his best races on Breeders Cup day.

But he was as honest and hard hitting as race horses come. Based on his career versus Lava Man's as of today....I'd certainly take Best Pal.

Lava Man is going to have to win in the East---and even if he does---the fact that many voters might think he was a "move-up" by a trainer without the greatest repute in the game...that might hurt his chances as well.

No question about it. I just mean from a fan perspective and kind of the gutsy gelding Cal bred type.

My Best Pal memory: I remember some a$$ at Gulfstream that year saying "Best Pal can't win the Derby, he's a gelding". I was 13 in 1991 and thought that was about the dumbest thing I'd ever heard at a racetrack!