Commentator is retired

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - As expected, Commentator was retired from racing following his third-place finish in Saturday's . His connections officially announced the 8-year-old gelding's retirement on Sunday.

While there are no physical issues that would prevent Commentator from running again, owner Tracy Farmer and trainer Nick Zito felt there was nothing left for the New York-bred son of Distorted Humor to prove. Their hope was that he could have joined the likes of Kelso and Discovery as the only three-time winners of the Whitney, a goal that fell three lengths short on Saturday.

Commentator retired with a race record of 14 wins from 24 starts and earnings of $2,049,845. In addition to winning the Whitney twice, he won the Grade 2 Richter Scale, the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap, and four other stakes.

"When he was on, he could beat anybody," Zito said. "I think the Mass Cap last year was one of his best races. On that day, he could have beaten anybody."

Commentator will stay with Zito in Saratoga for a couple of weeks. It is expected that he will be paraded through the stretch before the fans at the Spa one afternoon before he ships to Farmer's Shadowlawn Farm in Midway, Ky.

"Having been around a great athlete like that is really something," Farmer said. "He gave it his all every time. He deserves a good rest and a good life."

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