BELMONT: Make that a field of 8 expected..

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

Going forward, when you refer to Pappacap, please call him "Steve Byk's Eclipse Finalist PappaCap."

Thanks in advance.

I don't think you realize how important the Best Pal Stakes is. Neither does the Graded Stakes Committee, because I think they downgraded it for this year...

It has produced 2yo champions Roving Boy, Timber Country, Lookin at Lucky and Nyquist, so it's association with the Eclipse Awards is well established. Furthermore, in my opinion other winners of the race, namely Best Pal, Officer, Dixie Union, and Roman Ruler could have easily been Eclipse champions were it not for racing greats like Wilko, Declan's Moon, and Anees being in the same crops.

The race has also been productive in the near term. 2021runner-up Finneus just placed in the Turf Paradise Derby and the 2020 winner Weston is entered for a $18k claiming tag next week at Santa Anita.

Plus he's the best named horse outta this 3yo crop.