All the great efforts in the big races Pat put up over 30 years will probably be argued over as "his best ride". But there was one effort that among ractrack regulars in the midwest that stands out even today.

The best Pat Day ride I saw was at Churchill Downs on a cheap claimer named Excelso, trained by Greg Foley. Excelso was a horse that had NEVER won beyond 7 furlongs in a long claiming career. Ever. Anytime this gem of consistency was put in a race farther than 7/8, bettors everywhere licked their chops because he'd take money and we all knew he'd never stay the trip. Until Pat got on him.

It was the quintessential effort that underscored Day's moniker around the track of "Baby Hands". Excelso won that claiming race that day going 1 & 1/16 miles at Churchill, and to this day, Excelso has no idea he ran that far. The big races can showcase how a rider does his stuff under pressure. These type of claimers show what they can do when they have nothing to lose. Many that saw it will swear by the fact thet Pat was the ONLY guy who could have coaxed a two-turn win out of Excelso.

He was a class act. I had the privilege to interview him before, and he was always gracious with his time tho those of us that needed it for the jobs we had to do. May he have a great life wherever he chooses to go.

M3