Commentator comes back Big; Eyes Third Whitney
Equestrian News Release

ELMONT, N.Y. – Tracy Farmer’s 8-year-old Commentator put himself back on schedule to pursue his third Whitney victory as he dusted four fellow New York-breds in the $66,250 Kashatreya for state-breds at a mile on Belmont Park’s first “Party At The Park” Friday afternoon card of the season.

The Distorted Humor gelding popped out on the lead under jockey John Velazquez and set fractions of 24.75, 48.94 and 1:12.17 on the muddy track. Briefly challenged by Naughty New Yorker at the half-mile pole, Commentator drew off from his rivals to be a seven-length winner in1:35.65. Runner-up for the third straight time since his victory in the Empire Classic here last fall was Stud Muffin. Joe Corrigan, Naughty New Yorker and Commissioner Chris trailed.

Commentator, who returned $2.40 and topped a meet-low $2 exacta worth $4.30, began 2009 on April 18 when he tired as the pacesetter to run fourth in the Charles Town Classic. That was his first race since running third in the Grade 2 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs on November 28.

His victory on Friday now puts him back on target for Saratoga Race Course’s Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney on Saturday, August 8. Five-time Horse of the Year Kelso, who won his third Whitney at age 8 in 1965, remains the oldest Whitney winner. With victories in the 2005 and 2008 Whitney, Commentator stands with Kelso and Discovery, who won the Whitney three years in a row from 1934-36, as the only repeat winners of one of Saratoga’s biggest races.

“Now, that was more like it,” said Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito after Commentator’s victory on Friday. “Now, it’s seven-and-a-half, eight weeks to the Whitney. Let me see how he does, because I might even squeeze something in between, maybe a month before. If not, we’ll wait the eight weeks. Don’t forget, he’s still a New York-bred.”

Commentator carried top weight of 126 pounds on Friday, spotting his rivals from four to six pounds.

“Stud Muffin, he won the (Empire) Classic, he’s not a bad horse, neither is Naughty New Yorker,” Zito said. “There’s a lot of good things going on. To come home that fast, I don’t care what anybody says, it’s gratifying. He’s some horse, no matter how you look at it. This is what we needed, this is what he needed.”

Added Velazquez: “It was nice to have him back like that. He came back really good today, so that’s what counts. It was an easy trip for me!”

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