Commissioner (outside) breezing in company with Protonico at Keeneland – Keeneland Photo
Commissioner, who has not run since finishing sixth in the Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) on June 13th, breezed five furlongs on October 9th at Keeneland as he prepares for his return to the races.
Working in company with the multiple graded stakes winner Protonico, Commissioner recorded a sharp time of :59 2/5 seconds, the fastest time of the morning at that distance. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the son of A.P. Indy won the Pimlico Special (gr. III) and Skip Away Stakes (gr. III) earlier this year to stamp himself as among the best older horses in the country, but went to the sidelines following his poor effort in the Stephen Foster. He returned to the work tab on August 23rd at Saratoga and has since posted seven workouts, with today’s breeze marking his first at Keeneland.
Where Commissioner will run next is not yet known, but the $200,000 Hagyard Fayette S (gr. II) on October 30th at Keeneland could be a logical option, and from a timing perspective, the race would make an excellent prep for the November 27th Clark Handicap (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, in which Commissioner could seek to win his first grade I race.
