Five All-Time Great NY-Breds to be Honored at Spa

Five legendary New York-bred horses will be honored at Saratoga Race Course on Saratoga New York Showcase Day on Aug. 26.

The New York Thoroughbred Breeders announced the honorees, who were chosen by a panel of New York turf writers.

Two horses owned by Sackatoga Stable — Funny Cide  and Tiz the Law  — headline the class, which also features Saratoga's most famous horse, Fourstardave, two-time Whitney Handicap (G1) winner Commentator , and Fio Rito , who won the Whitney in 1982.

Connections from the all-time great New York-breds will be honored following the fifth race on Aug. 26. They will be presented with a certificate of achievement for their horse's racing career representing the New York-bred program.

Funny Cide won the 2003 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) before losing the Belmont Stakes (G1) and his Triple Crown bid. Trained by Barclay Tagg, Funny Cide, a son of Distorted Humor , was named New York-bred divisional champion three straight years and the New York-bred Horse of the Year in 2003. He was foaled at McMahon of Saratoga Thoroughbreds.

Tiz the Law, the New York-bred Horse of the Year in 2019 and 2020, won the 2020 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) as well as the Curlin Florida Derby (G1). The son of Constitution   was also trained by Tagg and was foaled at Sequel Stallions New York in Hudson.

Nicknamed the "Sultan of Saratoga," Fourstardave won at least one race at Saratoga each year from 1987-1994. Richard Bomze's homebred Compliance  gelding was trained by Leo O'Brien and retired with 21 wins in 100 starts. A grade 1 race is named for him at Saratoga.

Commentator, who was trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito, was New York-bred Horse of the Year in 2005 and 2008, the same years he won the Whitney. The son of Distorted Humor won 14 of 24 career starts. He was bred by Michael Martinez and campaigned by Tracy Farmer.

Fio Rito, a son of Dreaming Native, put New York-breds on the map with his Whitney win in 1982. The two-time New York-bred Horse of the Year was bred and owned by Ray LeCesse of Rochester and trained by Michael S. Ferraro.