Commentator honored at Saratoga

Last updated: 9/6/09 7:15 PM

Commentator visits the winner’s circle one more time
(Courtesy of NYRA)

The New York Racing Association paid tribute to one of the fastest and most
popular horses in racing when the recently-retired COMMENTATOR (Distorted Humor)
was honored Sunday at Saratoga.

The eight-year-old chestnut gelding, owned by Tracy Farmer and trained by
Hall of Famer Nick Zito, retired August 9, a day after finishing third in the
$750,000 Whitney H. (G1). He was attempting to join legends Discovery and Kelso
as the only three-time winners of the race in its 82-year history.

On Sunday, NYRA named the 5TH race, an overnight stakes race for New
York-bred three-year-olds and up, “The Commentator.”

Commentator appeared in the paddock before the race and then headed to the
main track. After parading for fans in front of the stands, Commentator, wearing
a No. 1 saddlecloth, was led into the winner’s circle to enjoy an edible “Key to
the City” prepared by Glen Sanders Mansion Bakery in his favorite flavor —
peppermint.

“I want to thank NYRA and the fans of New York for supporting Commentator,”
Zito said. “It has been special to bring him to Saratoga for so many Whitneys,
and we almost pulled it off for his third (win). It has been a tremendous honor.
The fans know how hard it is to keep a horse going that long and to run at that
high level, and that’s what we did. He brought his game every day. It’s
bittersweet. It’s sad, but it’s happy.”

“Commentator had a spectacular racing career, and he saved some of his best
performances for Saratoga Race Course,” NYRA President and CEO Charles Hayward
said. “We were thrilled to give the fans a chance to see him one more time on
the Saratoga track and would also like to commend Nick Zito, along with Tracy
and Carol Farmer, for their classy and professional handling of the horse.”

Commentator nibbles a piece of his special cake from the hand of trainer Nick Zito
(Courtesy of NYRA)

After the race, NYRA presented Zito and the Farmers with framed commemorative
photo collages of Commentator. A highlight video of Commentator’s career was
shown on monitors throughout the racetrack.

Commentator, bred in New York by Michael Martinez, leaves the racing stage
with 14 victories, eight of them in stakes races, from 24 starts, with earnings
of $2,049,845. He won the Whitney for the first time in 2005 when he held on for
a heart-stopping victory over eventual Horse of the Year Saint Liam, then
captured the race again three years later in a front-running tour de force.

Commentator overwhelmed his opposition when at his best, in both sprints and
route races. He won Gulfstream Park’s Richter Scale Sprint H. (G2) at seven
furlongs by 13 3/4 lengths two races before taking his second Whitney at 1 1/8
miles. He also won the Massachusetts H. by 14 lengths that year and finished
second in the Metropolitan H. (G1).