"Hall/Fame" Santos; Charm; Veitch

[philcski]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

I agree with you.

I think we need more horses going in and less people.

Even a good case could be made for a horse like Best Pal, who was tremendously popular out West.

* He was a Multiple Grade 1 winner at age 2.

* Won the Pacific Classic as a 3-year-old after a 2nd place finish in the KY Derby earlier in the year.

* Won three Grade 1's at age four---including the highest Beyer figure ever published for a Santa Anita Handicap winner.

* Won the Hollywood Gold Cup at age 5...and actually ran 2nd in a Grade 1 race on turf.

* Was a multiple stakes winner at age 6...including a 2nd place finish in the Pacific Classic.

* Won the Grade 2 San Antonio at age 7, including a 2nd place finish in the Santa Anita Handicap.

Racked up over $5.6 million in earnings, all in America, throughout the 1990's.

Better question is, why is he NOT in? He was Lava Man before Lava Man.

[Kasept]

Here's link to tonight's first hour.. Mike Kane of the HOF followed by Peter Fuller: http://www.attheracesandbeyond.com/stream/52907a.mp3

Fuller is a great listen...

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by philcski

Better question is, why is he NOT in? He was Lava Man before Lava Man.

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.

[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!

[10 pnt move up]

Best Pal would drown Lava Man if both horses were at their best, remember Best Pal when he turn 4 and he just was awsome before injury, while he was good after, he was never the same IMO.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

Best Pal would drown Lava Man if both horses were at their best, remember Best Pal when he turn 4 and he just was awsome before injury, while he was good after, he was never the same IMO.

In a hypothetical match race at 9 furlongs....

Would Best Pal at age seven with Garret Gomez be able to beat Best Pal at age four before the injury?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

In a hypothetical match race at 9 furlongs....

Would Best Pal at age seven with Garret Gomez be able to beat Best Pal at age four before the injury?

If Corey Black was the other rider? easy

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

If Corey Black was the other rider? easy

i remember way back he was riding san berdou in the early 90s. i think he had about a 5 length lead and he whacked him with the whip left handed. suddenly san berdou bolts waaaaaaaaaaaaaay out past the center of the track, loses his momentum, and gets caught.


he's walking back to the jocks room and i said to him casually, "hey corey, smart move there".

he replies to me "AS*HOLE!"

it made the painful loss worth it!

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

If Corey Black was the other rider? easy

heck, I did not see your post and made the same exact comment!

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

In a hypothetical match race at 9 furlongs....

Would Best Pal at age seven with Garret Gomez be able to beat Best Pal at age four before the injury?

wow, good question, probably, especially when corey black was riding him.