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Commissioner bosses Pimlico Special rivals
"This was awesome," Pletcher said. "I'm very happy. I loved the position he was able to get into. Once he gets into that rhythm, you can keep on cruising." "He was very strong today," Castellano said. "He minded so well. I was able to tuck in around the first turn and he was just galloping along. He can go :24 and :48, that's him. I didn't ask him until we turned for home. The more distance the better for him." Page McKenney was brave to finish so well for second, considering that he was banged up in the race. "He has a pretty bad cut on his ankle and it's bleeding pretty badly," trainer Mary Eppler said. "We have the vet coming over to the barn now. He's hit the board in all of his stakes races. I'm very pleased with the way he ran today." Cat Burglar (Unbridled's Song) checked in third in the Pimlico Special for the second straight year. Top Billing (Curlin), a long-way last early, worked his way into fourth in the field of seven. The deep closer wasn't helped by the scratch of Albano (Istan), who would probably have added more heat to the pace. Also scratched were Tapiture (Tapit) and Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid). Commissioner's scorecard now stands at 12-4-3-2, $797,237. A prominent face on the 2014 Triple Crown trail, the bay beat Top Billing in a hot Gulfstream allowance before underperforming in three preps. He bookended a troubled third in the Sunland Derby (G3) with sixths in the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1). Commissioner put forth a more encouraging effort when second to Tonalist (Tapit) in the Peter Pan (G2), and came within a head of defeating him at 28-1 in the Belmont. Sidelined for the remainder of his sophomore season, Commissioner took a couple of starts to reach peak form this year, but has now responded with back-to-back Grade 3 victories. "Right after the Skip Away, we talked about it and decided to go to the Pimlico Special," Pletcher said. "We'll see how he comes out of it. It's 22 days to the Brooklyn H. ([G2] on June 6), so that's possible. The Kentucky-bred is a half-brother to Canadian Grade 3 winner Laugh Track (Distorted Humor), runner-up in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). They were produced by multiple stakes heroine and Grade 3-placed Flaming Heart (Touch Gold), who comes from the further family of Grade 3 scorer and classic-placed Blumin Affair (Dynaformer). Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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