Commissioner Eyes Easier Skip Away Prize

When WinStar Farm's Belmont Stakes (gr. I) runner-up Commissioner returned from a layoff at the beginning of 2015, his connections had high hopes for a solid season including a potential run at Dubai. But after the Todd Pletcher trainee ran sixth in the Feb. 7 Donn Handicap (gr. I), his connections kept him home to aim at a far easier target—the $150,000 Skip Away Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park. 

The 1 3/16-mile Skip Away is run March 28, also the date of the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), but naturally drew a far less formidable field than the world's richest race. One of eight stakes, seven graded, on the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) card, the Skip Away attracted just six runners including 123-pound highweight East Hall, Sr. Quisqueyano, and Ulanbator.

Based on his recent work pattern, Commissioner appears to be sitting on a big effort. He shows five sharp works since fading to sixth behind stablemate Constitution after pressing the pace in the 1 1/8-mile Donn, including a bullet half mile in :48.13 March 22 at Palm Beach Downs. 

The 4-year-old son of A.P. Indy was third by a neck as the favorite in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance Jan. 10 at Gulfstream to open his 2015 campaign. It was his first start since being beaten a head by Tonalist in the Belmont last year.

After breaking his maiden at second asking at Saratoga Race Course as a 2-year-old in August, Commissioner waited to January of his 3-year-old year to start again. He won an entry-level allowance going 1 1/8 miles, but finished sixth in the Fountain of Youth (gr. II). He went on to run third in the Sunland Derby (gr. III), sixth in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), and second in the Peter Pan (gr. II) prior to the Belmont.

"He's run four times at Gulfstream, two times really well and two times not so well," said trainer Todd Pletcher. "I think the mile and three-sixteenths will suit him perfectly, and he seems to be in good order. He had no excuse in the Donn. He was traveling well. The race accelerated at the top of the stretch and he just kind of continued on a bit. It wasn't a bad effort; it just wasn't quite as good as Constitution's and a couple of other ones."

Florida-bred grade II winner East Hall makes his fourth start of the year in the Skip Away, three weeks after running fifth in the one-mile Gulfstream Park Handicap (gr. II). Fifth in the Donn, the 4-year-old Graeme Hall gelding ran second to Sr. Quisqueyano in the Sunshine Millions Classic Jan. 17.

"The last race we were really looking ahead to the Skip Away. We used (the Gulfstream Park Handicap) to help him get ready," trainer Bill Kaplan said. "This horse wants and needs two turns and the longer the better for him, so the Skip Away is right in his wheelhouse."

Fifth in last year's Florida Derby, Jack Hendricks and Roger Justice's East Hall closed 2014 with a flourish, winning the Ohio Derby, Indiana Derby (gr. II) and Sunshine Millions Classic Preview over his last four starts.

"We got beat up a little bit going up against the big races last year. He wasn't quite up to it at that time, so we dropped into some other races and he showed he can handle that level without a problem," Kaplan said. "I'm hoping he can handle the grade I types at the classic distances, so this mile and three-sixteenths should help prove it, or disprove it."

Sr. Quisqueyano makes his return to Gulfstream after leaving South Florida for the first time for the March 7 Santa Anita Handicap (gr. I), where he raced inside early and faded to run ninth of 13 behind Shared Belief.

"He seems like he came away from the ship well. Flying takes a whole lot less out of them than vanning does. I'd like another week but I don't think the race is coming up super tough. He did run third in the race last year, so we'll take a shot," trainer Peter Walder said. "There were a couple other spots to consider, but this is home. It's Florida Derby day and we want to support the cause. He loves the track and it's the last shot to run here for good money."

Walder claimed 5-year-old Sr. Quisqueyano, a career winner of nearly $715,000 in purses, for $62,500 on behalf of Ron Paolucci's Loooch Racing Stables out of a runner-up finish to subsequent grade III winner Race Day Dec. 21 at Gulfstream. In the first start for his new connections, the son of Exclusive Quality   beat graded winners East Hall and Wildcat Red in the Sunshine Millions Classic.

"We didn't look at it as an upset. He was 20-1 because the handicappers thought he was going to go to the lead. If the handicappers knew we were going to rate, I don't think he was going to be 20-1," Walder said. "Just because he ran for ($62,500) doesn't mean he's a claiming horse. Before that win he made $500,000 and you don't do that by not being a good horse."

Multiple grade III-placed Ulanbator, who beat Commissioner in a Gulfstream allowance Jan. 10, Pegasus (gr. III) runner-up Encryption, and allowance winner Tryer complete the field.