Pat On the Back won't be denied in Commentator Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – A year after losing the Commentator Stakes by a nose to Diversify, Pat On the Back prevailed by a nose in Monday’s $200,000 Commentator over a hard-luck Giant Expectations at Belmont Park.

In a three-horse duel from the five-sixteenths pole to the wire, Pat On the Back, under Dylan Davis, bested Giant Expectations, who stumbled badly at the break under Jose Ortiz. It was three-quarters of a length back to Mr. Buff, who set fast fractions while on the lead in a one-turn mile race that is out of his comfort zone.

The result left Harold Lerner, the majority owner of Pat On the Back, and Davis, the colt’s jockey, in awe.

“He was just tremendous today, we’re very lucky to have a horse like this, very fortunate, he just seems to show up every time,” said Lerner, noting that trainer Jeremiah Englehart “has done a really fabulous job with him. I’m almost speechless which never happens with a guy like me.”

Lerner had thought about pointing Pat On the Back to the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap here on June 8, but he re-routed the 5-year-old son of Congrats to this race when he saw how tough a field the Met Mile seems to be attracting.

The Commentator was no gimme with the California-based Giant Expectations shipping in to face New York-breds for the first time in two years, and Mr. Buff, who had been in top form before he threw in a clunker in the Grade 2 New Orleans Handicap.

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Ortiz said trainer Peter Eurton told him Giant Expectations can be difficult in the gate. That proved prophetic as he was moving around and then stumbled badly when the doors opened, breaking last and grabbing a piece of a front hoof.

Ortiz said he probably would have gotten the trip Pat On the Back did, which was a stalking third, three-wide, behind Mr. Buff who set fractions of 22.80 seconds for the quarter and 45.54 for the half while being chased by Haul Anchor.

Approaching the three-eighths pole Pat On the Back moved into second and Giant Expectations was third, still chasing Mr. Buff.

Mr. Buff, under Junior Alvarado was game on the lead down the lane and was trying to hold off Pat On the Back and Giant Expectations. But that pair was relentless and were able to get by Mr. Buff inside the sixteenth pole. It was going to come down to whose nose was on the wire first and it turned out to be that of Pat On the Back.

“The last sixteenth I really thought Jose was going to come by me,” Davis said. “I saw something ‘Patty’ never done before, put his head down, pin his ears back and just give me a little extra. I’ve never seen him fight like that.”

Pat On the Back, who improved his career record to 8 for 24, covered the mile in 1:33.43 and returned $6.70 as the favorite.

“We were pretty lucky, [Giant Expectations] ran a winning race also,” Lerner said.

Ortiz said at the three-eighths pole he knew he had to begin putting pressure on Pat On the Back, but he tried to do so gradually in order to have something left for the end.

“When he switched leads I asked him to go, he responded well – Pat On the Back did also, he’s a fighter also,” Ortiz said. “It was a dogfight from the eighth pole to the wire. Sometimes you ride the best horse and don’t win. That was the case today.”