SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – His final race of 2023 and his first start of 2024 were the two fastest races Drake’s Passage has run in his career. He lost them both. Should Drake’s Passage duplicate either of those efforts – both in open first-level allowance races – he should win Sunday’s $200,000 Commentator Stakes for New York-breds at Saratoga. The Commentator, and its female counterpart the $200,000 Critical Eye, are the two richest races on a 12-race card that includes 10 races – six stakes – for New York-breds as well as a steeplechase stakes. Sunday is the final day of the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. Following Sunday’s card, racing returns to Aqueduct on Friday through July 7. Last summer, Drake’s Passage won the $250,000 Albany Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds by 7 3/4 lengths. He went winless in his next three starts, though his neck loss to Maker’s Candy in a December allowance at Aqueduct resulted in a 99 Beyer Speed Figure. Drakes’ Passage came off a five-month layoff, again in an entry-level allowance, and was beaten one length by Cascais, but again earned a 99 Beyer. “I thought his first race back this year was a very good race,” trainer Christophe Clement said. “It’s amazing he got beat in two ‘a-other-thans’ and actually ran two of the best numbers of his life. Welcome to New York.” The Albany was run at 1 1/8 miles, which is the distance at which the Commentator will be run. Drake’s Passage is 1 for 3 on a wet track, and there is rain in the forecast. “I would prefer him to run on a fast track, but there’s nothing I can do,” Clement said. Olympic Dreams has won four times at 1 1/8 miles, but he hasn’t run as well without Lasix as he has when able to use the anti-bleeding medication. Lasix is not permitted to be used in stakes. Olympic Dreams did finish second in the 2023 Commentator when it was run at 1 1/16 miles at Belmont. Sheriff Bianco finished third in last year’s Commentator and has just one win in his last 15 starts with eight second-place finishes. He is stretching out from a second in the six-furlong Affirmed Success Stakes on May 2. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. “I’d prefer seven-eighths to a mile, but he performed pretty well at a mile and an eighth,” trainer Linda Rice said. “I’m very happy we were able to get a race in him. He’s versatile, has a good mind, nice horse.” Dr Ardito, a multiple stakes winner going a mile, Whittington Park, Donegal Surges, and Union Fleet complete the field. The Commentator goes as race 6. Fingal’s Cave tops Critical Eye After two unsuccessful tries in graded stakes, Fingal’s Cave is back with New York-breds in Sunday’s $200,000 Critical Eye for fillies and mares. Fingal’s Cave, a 5-year-old daughter of Carpe Diem trained by David Donk, is 4 for 4 against New York-breds with stakes wins in the Fleet Indian in 2022 and the Bay Ridge in December. Fingal’s Cave finished third behind Shidabhuti in the Grade 3 Distaff before running fourth in the Grade 2 Ruffian, both at Aqueduct in the spring. “She didn’t run quite as well last time as she did the time before,” Donk said. “This, ideally, puts her back on track.” Fingal’s Cave is 2 for 2 going 1 1/8 miles around two turns. “She’s done the mile and an eighth, so I don’t think it’s an issue,” Donk said. “We always questioned what’s her best distance. I think she wants to go longer, but this is a good spot for her.” John Velazquez rides Fingal’s Cave from post 8. Venti Valentine is 0 for 5 at 1 1/8 miles, though she has two seconds and two thirds. She did win the Bruce Johnstone Mile here last summer. She finished third, but was placed second via a disqualification, in the Serena’s Song Stakes on May 12 at Monmouth Park. “I think she wants to do two turns the way she ran at Monmouth,” trainer Jorge Abreu said. “I think it’s going to be a good setup for her.” Bustin Bay is coming off a starter-allowance win going a one-turn mile on March 30, her 13th career victory from 43 starts. Her lone win at 1 1/8 miles came in an allowance race here in July 2023. “This might be a smidge far, but I see a lot of speed and she has a nice outside post,” Rice said. Rice also entered Amanda’s Folly, but said she was not certain to run. Also entered were Sweet Mystery, Lavon, Bon Adie, Midtown Lights, and Sunset Louise. The Critical Eye goes as race 8. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.