Pat On the Back Scores Thrilling Victory in Commentator

Harold Lerner, AWC Stables, and Nehoc Stables' Pat On the Back fended off a rallying Giant Expectations in the $200,000 Commentator Stakes to wrap up Belmont Park's May 27 Memorial Day stakes action with a thriller. The victory kept the 5-year-old son of Congrats  perfect in two starts this year following the April 16 Affirmed Success Stakes.

Belmont's spotlight was on its local horses Monday, with six stakes lined up for New York-breds. The Commentator featured horses 3 and older going a mile over a fast main track and drew a field of seven stakes winners.

Most accomplished of the seven was Exline-Border Racing, Daniel Gatto, and Garett Zubok's Giant Expectations, who shipped in from Peter Eurton's Southern California barn. The 6-year-old son of Frost Giant  was seeking his first victory since the San Antonio Stakes (G2) in December 2017.

While jockey Dylan Davis and Pat On the Back, 2-1, settled into second after a comfortable start, Giant Expectations, the 4-5 favorite, stumbled under Jose Ortiz and found himself at the back of the field. Mr. Buff controlled the early going and posted opening fractions of :22.80, :45.54, and 1:09.09. The pacesetter was joined by Pat On the Back rounding the turn, and Giant Expectations swept up into third.

The three came down to the wire together—Mr. Buff on the rail, Giant Expectations on the outside, and Pat On the Back in the middle. Mr. Buff caved late, but Pat On the Back dug in and fought off Giant Expectations to win by a nose in a photo finish, a tough loss for Giant Expectations after losing all momentum at the break. It was another three-quarters of a length back to Mr. Buff. 

"This was a tough race. Giant Expectations stumbling at the start didn't help his chances and he ran his eyeballs out," said winning trainer Jeremiah Englehart. "When they linked up at the sixteenth pole, I knew our horse would dig in. It was just a great race out of him. This horse is just so special. He's all heart, all guts. Every time you ask him to go to bat, he's swinging."

The final time for the Commentator was 1:33.43 over a fast track.

"He was in battle mode today. I felt like he was going to let up a little bit at the sixteenth pole," Davis added. "What he did today I've never seen him do. It felt like he was going to pull up and let that horse go by at the sixteenth pole, but he put his head down, put his ears back, and gave a little extra of what we needed. It was like he knew where the wire was and he just got it done. I think this was one of his career-best runs today."

Pat On the Back was bred by Sugar Maple Farm and is the last of 10 foals out of the Awesome Again mare Accomplished. His dam produced eight starters, all winners, including another New York-bred stakes winner, Sarah Accomplished. 

St George Sales consigned Pat On the Back at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton New York-bred Preferred Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for $70,000 by trainer Kenny McPeek as agent. The horse moved to Englehart's care in May 2018. He holds an 8-4-4 record from 24 starts and is approaching millionaire status with $924,032 in earnings. 

Lawrence Goichman's homebred Kathryn the Wise sped out of the gate in the $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes and was never threatened as she opened up to repeat her 2017 victory.

The Criticial Eye was a one-mile affair for fillies and mares, 3 and up, on the main track. Off at odds of 2-1, Kathryn the Wise and jockey Javier Castellano jumped out of the gate and set quick fractions in :22.49, :45.12, and 1:09.46 before stopping the clock in 1:33.63. 

It was five lengths back to Midnight Disguise, who rallied from last but couldn't find enough steam to catch the runaway leader. Bonita Bianca and Still There completed the superfecta.

Kathryn the Wise began her season for trainer Chad Brown with a victory in the Jan. 5 La Verdad Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack before running sixth in the April 5 Distaff Handicap (G3), her first graded event. This year's Critical Eye boosted her earnings to $375,250 from a 5-1-0 record in eight starts.

Kathryn the Wise, a 6-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo , is the third foal and winner out of the Crafty Prospector mare, Shea d'Lady.

Brown and Castellano also teamed to win with Peter Brant's Fifty Five, who continued to dominate the New York-bred turf events with a ground-saving trip in the $125,000 Mount Vernon Stakes, for fillies and mares 3 and up on the grass. Fifty Five broke from the rail, settled there in mid-pack, then swung out turning for home.

The 5-year-old Get Stormy  mare rallied off fractions of :24.08, :47.88, and 1:11.04 set by Vip Nation. Fifty Five completed the mile in 1:34.09 over firm going and bested Lady Joan by a length. Kreesie was up for third over Wegetsdamunnys, who broke last of 11.

"This was a nice performance from her today," said Brown's assistant Whit Beckman. "After her last start at Aqueduct she seems to have rebounded fine. She runs real well on the lead. We didn't expect to be in front like that, but it worked out well for us."

"My filly broke well and I didn't want to take anything away that came easy," Castellano said. "She broke on top and I let her run her own race. She galloped along on the lead and she was just amazing. The way she did it today, I was very impressed. I have to thank Mr. Brown for giving me the opportunity to ride the filly. It was my first time on her and she made me look good today."

Off as the 1-2 favorite, Fifty Five notched her fourth straight win against local company in the Mount Vernon. She ran her earnings up to $785,038 with a 9-3-5 record in 18 starts. Bred by Empire Equines, Fifty Five was a $24,000 RNA at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale where she was consigned by Hidden Brook. She was purchased privately by Brant after winning the Florida Oaks (G3T) at 3.

Fifty Five is the fourth foal and first stakes winner out of the stakes-placed Brahms mare, Soave.

Trainer Linda Rice also scored two stakes victories on the card. Beach Haven Thoroughbreds' Newly Minted kept her three-race record perfect with a victory in the $125,000 Bouwerie Stakes for 3-year-old fillies going seven furlongs. Jockey Jose Lezcano settled the Central Banker  filly in third and waited for a spot to open up in the stretch. Once Newly Minted had running room, she sailed past pacesetter Cash Offer, who led through opening fractions in :23.19, :46.58, and 1:10.10.

Newly Minted, the 4-5 favorite, wrapped up seven furlongs in 1:22.07 over a fast main track 2 1/2 lengths in front. Cash Offer stayed on for second ahead of Behind the Couch and Elegant Zip.

The winning filly made her career debut April 13 on a muddy track at Aqueduct, where she also won the New York Stallion Stakes Park Avenue division in the slop a week later.

Newly Minted was a $110,000 purchase from the Sequel Bloodstock consignment at the 2018 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. She was bred by Chester and Mary Broman and of the winning Bernardini mare, Newbie. The dam's first foal, New Girl in Town, is multiple stakes placed. Newbie foaled a Classic Empire filly late April.

The Bouwerie improved Newly Minted's earnings to $212,850. 

Jerold Zaro's homebred Blindwillie McTell, also trained by Rice, boosted his already consistent record when he cruised home to win the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes. It was the third stakes victory against fellow New York-breds in his five race career. 

Stretching out to seven furlongs for the first time against other 3-year-olds, the Posse gelding sat off fraction of :22.84, :45.80, and 1:09.27 set by Le General. Blindwillie McTell, the 5-2 favorite, took command under Ortiz as the pacesetter faded and held off late runners to win by two lengths in 1:21.53. Funny Guy, Bankit, and Just Right closed behind the winner.

Blindwillie McTell was second in his first outing Nov. 17 at Aqueduct before breaking his maiden in the Dec. 16 New York Stallion Stakes Great White Way division. He opened up his sophomore campaign with a win and runner-up effort in the Jan. 13 Rego Park Stakes and April 20 New York Stallion Stakes Times Square division, respectively. His earnings now total $258,650.

Blindwillie McTell is out of the stakes-placed Flatter mare, Bold Child. The mare's five starters are all winners, and Young Anna Lee, a full sister to Blindwillie McTell, is stakes placed against local company. 

Castleton Lyon's Gucci Factor, trained by Christophe Clement, kicked into high gear in the stretch of the $125,000 Kingston Stakes, a mile over Belmont Park's lawn for 3-year-olds and up, and ran down pacesetter Mo Maverick to score his first stakes victory.

Mo Maverick pulled away by double digits as he set fractions of :23.33, :46.53, and 1:09.96. Ortiz was in no rush on Gucci Factor and waited for Mo Maverick to tire as the field turned for home. Gucci Factor, 9-2, closed in fast and finished the mile in 1:33.51 while 1 1/4 lengths in front. Mo Maverick held for second over Offering Plan and Therapist.

The Kingston was the first start of the season for Gucci Factor, who closed out 2018 with an allowance optional claiming victory Dec. 29 at Tampa Bay Downs, which followed a third-place effort in the Sept. 23 Ashley T. Cole Stakes at Belmont. The 6-year-old Gio Ponti  gelding now holds a 6-1-2 record from 13 started and $278,450 in earnings. 

Castleton Lyons went to $150,000 for Gucci Factor at the 2014 Fasig-Tipton Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by his breeder Highclere. Gucci Factor is out of the unraced Dynaformer mare, Shoo In, who has five winners from as many starters, including Street Sense Stakes runner-up Ichiban Warrior.