Commentator honored as best New York-bred

Commentator, for the second time in four years, has been voted New York-bred Horse of the Year and champion statebred older male by the New York Thoroughbred Breeders' Association.

Commentator's spectacular 7-year-old campaign included victories in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga, the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs, and the Grade 2 Richter Scale Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

Commentator, a gelded son of Distorted Humor owned by Tracy Farmer, bred by Michael Martinez, and trained by Nick Zito, won these same awards in 2005.

J'ray, owned and bred by Lawrence Goichman, also was a dual winner, capturing the female turf championship as well as champion older female.

Pays to Dream, owned and bred by December Hill Farm, was voted champion male turf horse on the strength of his victory in the Grade 2 Dixie and narrow loss in the Grade 1 Manhattan.

Bustin Stones, who went 3 for 3 including a victory in the Grade 1 Carter, was voted champion male sprinter. By the Light, a three-time stakes winner, was voted champion female sprinter.

Other award winners include Tin Cup Chalice (3-year-old male), Sweet Vendetta (3-year-old filly), Cribnote (2-year-old male), Doremifasollatido (2-year-old female) and Be Certain (steeplechase). Also honored were jockey Edgar Prado, trainer Gary Contessa and breeder Becky Thomas.