Aqueduct: Comandante wires elders in Alex Robb

Left in command of the early pace when 4-5 morning-line favorite Saratoga Snacks was scratched in the morning due to a foot issue, Comandante made every pole a winning one en route to his third straight win for Todd Pletcher in Saturday’s $100,000 Alex M. Robb Stakes.

With multiple stakes winner West Hills Giant also scratched after running against open company in Friday’s Traskwood overnight stakes, Comandante was left as the only 3-year-old in a field of six New York-breds.

Comandante ($5.10) was sent off as second choice, and the vastly improved gelding by Frost Giant never gave his backers an anxious moment while stretching out from a win in the Thunder Rumble division of the New York Stallion Series at seven furlongs.

Rating kindly beneath Cornelio Velasquez, Comandante rambled along through even fractions of 24.42, 48.55, and 1:12.55 seconds, shook off early pursuer Moneyinyour Pocket turning for home and remained clear through the stretch to score by 4 1/2 lengths.

“My horse is in good form – this was his third straight win,” said Velasquez. “The assistant trainer [Byron Hughes] said before the race if the No. 4 horse [Zetterholm] wanted to go, to let him go, but my horse broke two lengths in front. He was never under any pressure even when the other horse came to him, and had plenty left at the end.”

Comandante, trained by Todd Pletcher, ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.15 seconds on a fast inner track, and earned $60,000 for Three Diamonds Farm.

“He had been training well,” said Hughes. “This is the kind of performance I expected out of him.”

Moneyinyour Pocket, a 19-1 chance, saved the place by a nose over even-money favorite Awesome Vision, who lacked his customary late kick.

The order of finish was completed by Zetterholm, Bake Shop, and Sound of Drums, who reared at the start and trailed throughout.