Giant Expectations Returns to New York for Commentator

Finding Giant Expectations in a May 27 stakes for New York state-breds is hardly a startling turn of events.

He is, after all, a horse who was bred in the Empire State, just like the other six starters in the $200,000 Commentator Stakes at Belmont Park, one of six stakes for New York state-breds worth a combined $900,000 on Big Apple Showcase Day.

Yet when you look at Giant Expectations' past performances heading into the one-mile stakes for 3-year-olds and up, it would not leave anyone in a New York state of mind.

For the 6-year-old son of Frost Giant , the Commentator will be his first start at a New York Racing Association track since June 8, 2017, when he captured an allowance race for state-breds at Belmont.

Since then, Giant Expectations has traveled the country for his California-based connections of owners Exline-Border Racing, Daniel Gatto, and Garrett Zubok. He ran in California and Florida for trainer Peter Eurton before returning to California, then shipped to Kentucky, California again, Arkansas, and, finally, New York for Monday's race.

"He travels very well," Eurton said. "Since he is a New York-bred, we thought it would be a good opportunity before Del Mar opens (in July) to venture into New York. He hasn't won a race in a little bit, so we hope we can get that off our back and get him back to his winning ways."

Giant Expectations' last victory came Dec. 26, 2017, when he prevailed in the San Antonio Stakes (G2). That was eight starts ago, but the losing takes on a different look when you review those starts and see that they came in races like the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1), Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1), Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), and the San Pasqual Stakes (G2).

Bred by Sunrise Stables, Giant Expectations' last start came April 13 in the $750,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2), when he finished fifth but wound up only a length behind the victorious Quip.

"He had a tough beat at Oaklawn," Eurton said. "What are you going to do? You go five, six wide and get beat a length in fifth. It hurts."

Giant Expectations, who began his career in 2016 with six starts at Santa Anita Park before he posted two wins at Belmont, has won only four of his 20 starts, but his earnings of $1,256,800 reflect the purse value of his races as well as a considerable amount of profit off the $135,000 Ryan Exline paid for him at the 2015 Ocala Breeders' Sales March 2-Year-Olds in Training sale on the advice of bloodstock agent Marette Farrell.

Out of the Is It True mare Sarahisittrue, Giant Expectations was purchased by Exline from the de Meric Sales consignment.

Originally, Is It Real Stables bought him for $85,000 from the Brandywine Farm consignment at the 2014 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, and he was then a $70,000 RNA at the 2014 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

As much as the Commentator will offer some class relief, it will not be an easy spot for Giant Expectations. The field of seven includes Honor Up, who was third in the Carter Handicap (G1), and Pat On the Back, whose 2018 campaign included a win in the $300,000 Empire Classic, a second by a nose to multiple grade 1 winner Diversify in the Commentator, and a fifth in the Cigar Mile Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

"It's not an easy race," Eurton said. "It's a very competitive race with a lot of good horses. There are no slouches in there."

Honor Up, a son of To Honor and Serve owned by Saratoga Seven Racing Partners and trained by Michelle Nevin, finished 1 3/4 lengths behind World of Trouble in the seven-furlong Carter. Bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, he won three straight races before the Carter, a streak that included the Haynesfield Stakes and Say Florida Sandy Stakes for state-breds.

Pat On the Back, bred by Sugar Maple Farm, is coming off a winning 2019 debut in the April 26 Affirmed Success Stakes at Belmont Park. Owned by Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, and Nehoc Stables, the 5-year-old Congrats  horse trained by Jeremiah Englehart has seven wins in 23 starts, with earnings of $814,032.

Syndergaard, named for the New York Mets pitcher, was third in the Affirmed Success and was second by a nose and a neck to Honor Up in the Haynesfield and Say Florida Sandy. Owned by Eric Fein, Christopher McKenna, Harris Fein, Guri Singh, and Jerry Walia, the son of Majesticperfection bred by Burleson Farms is trained by John Terranova.

Chester and Mary Broman's homebred Mr. Buff was last seen finishing ninth in the New Orleans Handicap (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, but the gelded son of Friend or Foe won four straight races for trainer John Kimmel before that, including a 5 1/4-length score in the Jazil Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack against open company.

The remaining state-bred stakes on the Monday card include the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies, the $125,000 Mount Vernon Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-old-and-up fillies and mares, the $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes at a mile for 3-year-old-and-up fillies and mares, the $125,000 Kingston Stakes at a mile on turf for 3-year-olds and up, and the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds.

Entries: Commentator S.

Belmont Park, Monday, May 27, 2019, Race 10

• STK
• 1m
• Dirt
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 6:24 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Honor Up (NY)	Manuel Franco	120	Michelle Nevin	7/2
2	2Syndergaard (NY)	Luis Saez	116	John P. Terranova II	6/1
3	3Control Group (NY)	Javier Castellano	120	Rudy R. Rodriguez	15/1
4	4Mr. Buff (NY)	Junior Alvarado	120	John C. Kimmel	6/1
5	5Giant Expectations (NY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Peter Eurton	3/1
6	6Haul Anchor (NY)	Kendrick Carmouche	118	Rudy R. Rodriguez	9/2
7	7Pat On the Back (NY)	Dylan Davis	123	Jeremiah C. Englehart	5/2