Whitney

Commentator held off Saint Liam in a shocker at Saratoga (Joseph DiOrio/Horsephotos.com)

Tracy Farmer’s COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor) got out to an early lead in
Saturday’s $750,000
Whitney H. (G1)
at Saratoga and was able to keep that spot
to hold off 3-5 favorite Saint Liam (Saint Ballado) by a neck at the wire.

The Nick Zito charge was making only his third start of the year when he broke
alertly to set the pace. Racing well in hand under Gary Stevens, he was unrivaled through fractions of
:23 2/5, :46 2/5 and 1:09 3/5, leading by more than 5 1/2 lengths at the
six-furlong call. Nearing the stretch, Saint Liam began his attack, closing
to within 1 1/2 lengths by the time Commentator had reached a mile in 1:34 4/5, but was not able to
catch the winner, who dug in resolutely along the inside to win by a
neck and complete the 1 1/8-mile affair in 1:48 1/5 over a track labeled fast.

“I didn’t know if he could go the distance,” Zito said. “Commentator is an unusual
horse. I was glad Edgar (Prado on Saint Liam) gave us a little break.
Edgar rode a hell of a race. He knew Commentator was the horse to beat.
This win was special because of Monday (Zito’s induction into the
National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame). This is probably the most
important victory of my life. How can I thank God for this victory?”

Commentator, one part of an entry for Zito, returned $8.40, $3 and $3.60 for
his efforts at 3-1 while Saint Liam gave back $2.50 and $2.20 and ended the
$16.80 exacta. Sir Shackleton (Miswaki), the other half of the entry, got up
for third and paid the same as his stablemate. Swingforthefences (Boston Harbor) came home next to
complete the 1-2-4 trifecta that
paid $128. Limehouse (Grand Slam), Eurosilver (Unbridled’s Song), Wiggins
(Cartwright) and Pollard’s Vision (Carson City) rounded out the order of finish.