Commissioner, who went to the sidelines with an ankle chip after being beaten a head in last year's Belmont Stakes (gr. I), turned in an excellent performance in his comeback race to finish third in an 8.5-furlong allowance optional claiming race on January 10th at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Todd Pletcher and owned by WinStar Farm, Commissioner got off to a very quick start and soon found himself racing in second place, a half-length behind front-running Secretive. The two colts set quick fractions of :23.45 and :46.66, after which Commissioner advanced on the outside to take command through three-quarters of a mile in 1:11.22. Commissioner appeared to be on his way to victory, but was challenged in the homestretch by Ulanbator and Looking Cool, who were rallying strongly as a pair on the outside. Although tiring a bit in his first start off the layoff, Commissioner battled gamely down the homestretch, and while he finished third in the end, he was beaten just a head and a neck by Ulanbator and Looking Cool, who swept the exacta in that order. The final time was 1:42.75. Dawly finished fourth, five lengths behind Commissioner, while Secretive retreated to finish fifth, beaten 13 1/2 lengths. Tarpy's Goal, Dudeman, and Undertaker completed the order of finish.
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