Gulfstream: Commissioner, Top Billing impressive going 1 1/8 miles

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Commissioner and Top Billing enhanced their status within the 3-year-old division here at Gulfstream Park after finishing a neck apart as the one-two finishers in a talent-laden 1 1/8-mile allowance Friday.

Making his first start since winning his maiden going the same distance at Saratoga more than four months earlier, Commissioner rallied from just off the pace before narrowly getting the best of Top Billing following a stretch-long battle. It gave jockey Jose Lezcano his fourth victory on the card.

Commissioner is a homebred son of A.P. Indy owned by WinStar Farm and trained by Todd Pletcher.

“I thought it was a big effort for a horse who hadn’t run since Saratoga,” said Pletcher. “He’s a big powerful horse with a two-turn pedigree so I was really pleased. And I think there’s still room for improvement. He’s still learning how to run and still learning how to kind of finish and focus. The thing I’m most pleased about today is how tactical he was. He actually broke well enough to prompt the pace a little more than he did if Jose had chosen to.”

Pletcher said he and WinStar’s president and racing manager Elliott Walden decided it would be in Commissioner’s best interests to take the remainder of his 2-year-old campaign off following his maiden win on Aug. 28.

“At that time, your options are pretty limited for 2-year-olds who want a mile and one-eighth,” said Pletcher. “We didn’t feel he was mature enough to go the California route, so you’re either waiting for the Remsen or give him the time off and bring him back with a 3-year-old campaign in mind. Most of the A.P. Indys I’ve been around get better as they get older, so to do what he did at 2 and again early in his 3-year-old campaign today is pretty encouraging.”

Pletcher said he has lots of options for Commissioner, including the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 22.

“I like the mile and one-eighth for him but don’t know if there is a mile and one-eighth option between now and the Florida Derby,” said Pletcher. “So we might have to back up to a mile and one-sixteenth for one start, which would put the Fountain of Youth in the mix for sure.”

Top Billing was equally as impressive while making just his second start and first beyond six furlongs. Top Billing, a son of Curlin trained by Shug McGaughey, got shuffled back early and had to race in tight quarters outside the winner turning into and through much of the stretch before continuing on willingly to the end.

“I was very impressed,” said McGaughey. “I think it’s very difficult for a horse to go from three-quarters around one turn to a mile and an eighth, especially over this track. He got all the worst of it. He got squeezed the first part of it and it wasn’t all roses from there and he handled it all, ran through it all. He was probably the best, but finished second.”

McGaughey said he now has the option of running Top Billing back in another allowance before trying him against stakes competition.

Mucho Macho Man sharp

Mucho Macho Man turned in his most impressive work since returning to training following his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, going an easy half- mile in 47.76 seconds just prior to the renovation break Saturday.

Mucho Macho Man completed his final quarter in 23.33 into a fairly stiff headwind before galloping out five-eighths in 1:00.68 under regular exercise rider Nick Petro Jr., switching leads on cue and running straight as an arrow down the stretch.

“It was a very good work this morning,” said trainer Kathy Ritvo, who several hours later nominated Mucho Macho Man to the Sunshine Millions Classic to be run here on Jan. 18. “Sometimes he can get a little unfocused when he works, but this morning he was really on top of his game.”