Commentator Stakes a Wide Open Affair

New York-breds take the spotlight the day following the Belmont Stakes (G1) extravaganza at Saratoga Race Course in six-featured stakes June 9. The card is topped by the $200,000 Commentator Stakes for state-bred older horses going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt and the race's female equivalent, the $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes.

The Commentator, named for the brilliant New York-bred gelding, has drawn an evenly-matched field of seven rivals. One of the more intriguing and experienced horses in the field, Dr. Ardito, may not have flashed his best form in his last two starts but could be primed for a big effort in Sunday's race. Trained by Chad Brown for Michael Caruso and Michael Dubb, the Liam's Map   gelding has run some of the highest speed figures in the field throughout his 16-start career. A multiple stakes winner against state-bred company, he ran an admirable second, beaten only a half-length, to Everso Mischievous  in last year's Forty Niner Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Ridden by Flavien Prat in the Commentator, the gelding will need to return to his best to beat this field, which includes Ten Strike Racing's Whittington Park , conquerer of Dr. Ardito in the Feb. 4 Haynesfield Stakes, as well as the consistent Drake's Passage , who returns to state-bred competition after two runner-up finishes in open allowance company.