SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – There was no bigger proponent of New York racing or the New York-bred program than Christophe Clement. The French-born trainer, who raced in New York for 33 years, won a plethora of stakes with the likes of Lubash, Disco Partner, Therapist, and City Man, all New York-bred millionaires. Clement died on May 24 after a battle with cancer. The stable is now being run by Miguel Clement, Christophe’s 34-year-old son, who will look to keep the legacy of statebred success going with Drake’s Passage in Wednesday’s $200,000 Commentator Stakes at Saratoga. The Commentator, for older males at 1 1/8 miles, is one of six stakes restricted to New York-breds on the first card of the five-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Last year, New York Showcase Day was held in the slop on the final day of the then-four day festival. Drake’s Passage won the Commentator by four lengths. Two starts later, in an open second-level allowance run over a sloppy track at Saratoga, Drake’s Passage finished last as the 2-5 favorite. Miguel Clement said Drake’s Passage lost both front shoes in that race and emerged with tender feet, which may not have been totally healed when he finished eighth in the Empire Classic at Aqueduct in late October. On May 4, Drake’s Passage came off a six-month layoff and finished fifth of six in an allowance race, an effort the 5-year-old son of Tonalist likely needed. :: DRF Belmont Stakes Packages: Save up to 52% on PPs, Clocker Reports, Betting Strategies, and more. “He wasn’t 100 percent fit, we knew that going into it,” Clement said. “It was either continue to work him for this race or run him and the race would bring him to a better level for the stakes, so we decided to run him even though he wasn’t 100 percent and it showed. “Although he was traveling very well, he didn’t quite finish his race. But having a race under his belt, it really stepped him up for where he needs to be for this race.” On May 29, Drake’s Passage had a sharp half-mile work in 48.69 seconds, decidedly beating company, over the Oklahoma training track. Bank Frenzy, recently crowned as the 2024 New York-bred older male dirt champion, is looking to bounce back from a fourth-place finish in the Grade 3 Westchester. Prior to that, Bank Frenzy had won four straight races, including two New York-bred stakes. Though he’s been enjoying success in races run at one mile, Bank Frenzy has a win and a second in two starts at 1 1/8 miles. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez felt Bank Frenzy ran a good race in the Westchester, “Just a little bit better horses than us,” he said. “He ran his race. He just needs to get better to run against those horses.” On Monday, Bank Frenzy blew out three furlongs in 40 seconds over Saratoga’s main track. “I don’t worry about time,” Rodriguez said. “I breezed him myself and he went beautiful. He did what I wanted to do and came back kicking the walls.” Jimmy Ferraro has the uncoupled entry of Mama’s Gold and General Banker entered in the Commentator. Mama’s Gold beat Bank Frenzy in the Empire Classic last October, and then won an open allowance pairing 103 Beyer Speed Figures. He is coming off a last-place finish in the Excelsior Stakes on April 5. Critical Eye Sterling Silver was listed as the even-money favorite for Wednesday’s $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. She looms an even shorter price after trainer Wesley Ward said his filly Landed, the 3-1 second choice on the morning line, will have to scratch due to a throat irritation. In 30 career starts, Sterling Silver has raced 1 1/8 miles just once, getting beat a nose by Venti Valentine in the Empire Distaff Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares. Most of her success has come in one-turn races. “She’s run pretty good at that trip,” trainer Bill Mott said. “She can kind of do just about anything. I thought it was a good opportunity to run against restricted competition.” Two starts back, Sterling Silver won the Biogio’s Rose against statebred company at a mile. Last out, she finished second to Jody’s Pride in the Grade 2 Ruffian Stakes, also at one mile. Junior Alvarado rides from what will become post 7 in the now eight-horse field. :: Bet the Belmont Stakes with confidence! Betting Strategies by Mike Beer and David Aragona feature exclusive wager recommendations! The scratch of Landed could help Bernietakescharge, as she could now play out as the primary speed breaking from the outside draw under Romero Maragh. Two starts back, she was a front-running winner of the Heavenly Prize Stakes against open company. Four starts back, she won a 1 1/8-mile statebred allowance on the lead. P Mutter Pickle, a daughter of Vino Rosso, stretches out to nine furlongs for the first time coming off a 6 3/4-length victory in a statebred allowance at one mile. “The more distance we’re going to go, the better it’s going to be,” trainer Phil Antonacci said. “I think the nine furlongs is going to play into her hands.” Amanda’s Folly finished third in the Empire Distaff and second in the Fleet Indian in her last two starts at 1 1/8 miles against New York breds. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.