Ouster finds niche going long on dirt
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ELMONT, N.Y. – Last year, the Commentator Stakes failed to fill. This year, the Commentator drew a robust field of 13 with some familiar names such as Bankit, Sea Foam, and Dr Ardito and a handful of newcomers to the New York-bred stakes ranks such as Ouster.
At this time last year, Ouster was a 4-year-old maiden who lost his first two starts sprinting. A year later, Ouster is a three-time winner who seems to have found his niche as a distance horse on dirt.
Ouster is one of many viable contenders in the $200,000 Commentator, one of six stakes on Monday’s Big Apple Showcase program, a 10-race card comprised of races restricted to New York-breds.
Ouster, a 5-year-old son of Outwork trained by Mark Hennig, won his maiden on turf last November at Aqueduct. Returned to dirt once the turf season ended, Ouster had two wins and two seconds at Aqueduct over the winter.
“Turns out he needed distance,” Hennig said. “He’s a great big horse, biggest horse in the barn.”
Two starts back Ouster won a second-level New York-bred allowance by five lengths, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure. Last out, he was beaten by Majority Partner, who raced on a soft pace while Ouster tried to run him down.
Monday, Ouster breaks from post 10 under Dylan Davis.
Trainer Linda Rice has Curlin’s Wisdom and Sheriff Bianco in this spot. Curlin’s Wisdom won three straight New York-bred races last fall before finishing second in the Empire Classic. Curlin’s Wisdom has beaten open allowance foes twice. Most recently, he finished a well-beaten second to Unbridled Bomber in a third-level allowance.
Sheriff Bianco has had all of his success sprinting.
New York-bred stalwarts Bankit and Sea Foam are back for more. Bankit, a seven-time stakes winner won the 2021 Commentator by 13 1/4 lengths in 2021 when the race was run over a sloppy track.
Sea Foam, a 10-time winner in 32 starts, is seeking his first win since the Alex M. Robb in December 2021 and will have to overcome post 13 to get it.
Dr Ardito, trained by Chad Brown, is back with New York-breds after running fifth in the Grade 3 Westchester. Dr Ardito beat Bankit by a head in the one-mile Haynesfield for New York-breds in February.
Brooklyn Strong, Whittington Park, Barese, Olympic Dream, Shipsational, Prince of Pharoahs, and Two for Charging complete the field.
Critical Eye
Sterling Silver is 3 for 3 versus New York-breds and that might rate her a slight edge in a competitive, albeit small, field for Monday’s $200,000 Critical Eye Stakes.
The 1 1/16-mile race drew six, but Ok Honey ran a poor fourth in a Friday allowance and figures to scratch.
Sterling Silver, a daughter of Cupid, hasn’t faced New York-breds since she won the Bouwerie Stakes for 3-year-old fillies last May 30. She went winless in her next six starts – five graded stakes – before winning an open company allowance going seven furlongs on April 22.
Now, Sterling Silver must prove she can get 1 1/16 miles.
“We feel confident enough the way she ran last time and being with her New York-breds friends could make a difference,” said trainer Tom Albertrani, who noted that her only try beyond a mile came in the Grade 1 Ashland, where she finished a well-beaten fifth.
Albertrani wintered at Tampa Bay Downs. Since he’s come back to New York, he has won with four of five starters including Sterling Silver.
Venti Valentine ended her 3-year-old campaign with a facile victory in the Bay Ride Stakes last Dec. 17. Her connections have stated this was where Venti Valentine was going to make her 4-year-old debut. She shows a solid work pattern for her return. John Velazquez rides from post 6.
“She came back in good shape. It looks like she grew and got stronger,” said Jorge Abreu, trainer of Venti Valentine. “I think she wants to go one turn and this is a one-turn mile and a sixteenth. I think that’s going to benefit her.”
John Velazquez rides Venti Valentine from post 6. The previous time Velazquez rode Venti Valentine, she was beaten a neck by Nest in the Grade 2 Demoiselle.
Classy Edition won the Grade 3 Royal Delta at Gulfstream in February. Most recently she finished last in a tough renewal of the Grade 3 La Troienne. As a 2-year-old in 2021, Classy Edition went 3 for 3 against New York-breds with two stakes wins.
“No real excuse in the La Troienne,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “She seemed to bounce out of it well so we put her back in against New York-breds and see how she does.
Pletcher also send out Let Her Inspire U who did win the Empire Distaff going 1 1/8-miles at Aqueduct last fall.
Timeless Journey won the Biogio’s Rose for New York-breds in March and has since lost two open stakes tries.
The Critical Eye is carded as race 3.
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