2021 Eclipse Award Ballot & Discussion

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by knickslions2

I don’t who should be there but at least the horse ran 8 times even though it was not all in US. To use basketball reference Jordan should have been mvp every year but if he only played half a season I wouldn’t vote for him. 3 races doesn’t deserve any award in my opinion.

If this were 20 years ago I’d agree with you. Abbreviated campaigns are a reality.

Where is your sweet spot on number of starts? Is 4 award worthy?

I haven’t put a whole lot of thought into it, but looking at what each of the finalists accomplished, Domestic Spending’s resume is as good as any in that division. He didn’t show up often, but he made it count when he did.

[cakes44]

So if Domestic Spending is definitely top 3, shouldn’t Colonel Liam be discussed?

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by cakes44

So if Domestic Spending is definitely top 3, shouldn’t Colonel Liam be discussed?

No

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by cakes44

So if Domestic Spending is definitely top 3, shouldn’t Colonel Liam be discussed?

If you definitely believe Domestic is number one, you might make an argument for Colonel Liam. I'm not one, as he was outrageously lucky when he dead heated Domestic and got drowned in the Manhattan when they both got fair trips. The Pegasus Turf has always been a dubious Grade 1. It's the Gulfstream Park Turf, which was always a questionable Grade 1, and beating Largent in a photo wasn't overly impressive. Having said that, however, he does have some credentials.

I get the Yibir support. I'm not a huge fan, but he's not a terrible choice. Space Blues? No thanks. Perfect trip in a dreadful BC Mile and it's not like he had a wildly impressive European campaign ( though better than Yibir did ). It's a flawed division, to say the least, and even Domestic is a shaky champion. It is fair to point out that he only ran three times, but I just think he did more in those three races than any others. How is Yibir winning an uncompetitive ungraded race at Belmont against overmatched horses good enough to make his BC win, against one good Euro who was essentially eased, more impressive than Domestic's three races? To me, it isn't...but I can't argue too strongly against it.

Taking a stand for Smooth Like Strait is indefensible in my opinion.