Alvarado guides Alan Turing to rail-skimming victory in Commentator

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Alan Turing, an 11-1 chance, bested 32-1 pacesetter Dr. Kraft after a stretch-long battle and landed the $200,000 Commentator late Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga.

Alan Turing won his stakes debut, while trainer Patrick Quick sent out his first stakes-winner since 2016. Quick, whose first starter dates to 1989, won his fifth stakes race with his 2,236th runner.

Alan Turing got home by a half-length as the two prices had the Commentator to themselves from the head of the homestretch to the wire. Russian Realm, 16-1, rallied from last of eight to finish third, 2 1/4 lengths out of second. The favorites – Wynstock, Bank Frenzy, and Donegal Surges, played no part in this dirt route for older New York-breds.

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Junior Alvarado rode Alan Turing three times late last year but had not been aboard the 4-year-old gelding his last four starts. Wednesday, he got a leg up on a gelding who had switched to dirt racing last December following eight grass starts and hit top form this season. Alvarado broke his mount from post 3 and made a beeline for the rail, which he never left through the 1 1/8-mile Commentator.

Hustled to the lead, Dr. Kraft set a legitimate pace while unchallenged, going his half-mile in 47.37 over a fast main track that appeared to be carrying speed. Dr. Kraft remained clear around the far turn, and at the quarter-pole still showed no sign of wavering. Dr. Kraft cornered slightly off the fence, and Alvarado, who’d kept Alan Turing in a stalking position behind the leader, urged his mount up the rail. Alan Turing went gamely through a relatively tight gap and surged to a narrow advantage, but Dr. Kraft wasn’t done. He battled back, perhaps briefly regaining the lead, before finally succumbing in the final half-furlong.

Alan Turing was timed in 1:48.39 and paid $25.62 to win.

Bred and owned by Gallaghers Stud, Alan Turing is by Omaha Beach out of Honoria, by Sadler’s Wells, the family very much grass oriented. Alan Turing’s form improved after Quick ceased racing the horse in blinkers six races into his career, and by November, Alan Turing had started looking like a real horse – just in time for the end of the New York grass-racing season.

Connections moved Alan Turing to dirt late last year, and while his form did not immediately transfer across surfaces, Alan Turing popped up to a new level in two April starts. Quick chose an opportune moment to try stakes competition, Alvarado picked the right path on the Saratoga main track, and Alan Turing upset the Commentator.

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