A Golden State at Saratoga

Both of the winners of two Grade I races at Saratoga on Saturday had a definite California feel.

Gary Stevens, a Southern California fixture, rode Commentator to an upset over 7-10 favorite Saint Liam in the $750,000 Whitney Handicap.

One race earlier, Leave Me Alone, a California-bred trained by Eric Kruljac and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, crushed her eight opponents in the $250,000 Test. After her narrow victory in the Azalea Breeders’ Cup at Calder in her first road trip last month, the 3-year-old daughter of Bold Badgett led throughout and won by 7 3/4 lengths.

Commentator, a New York-bred son of Distorted Humor owned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Nick Zito, won for the sixth time in seven starts, beating Saint Liam by a neck.

After opening up five lengths under Stevens early, the 3-1 second choice, who raced coupled in the betting with third-place finisher Sir Shackleton, was all out to prevail, but he did demonstrate his ability to win beyond a mile. All of his other victories have come around one turn.

“The win was special because of Monday,” said Zito, who will be inducted into horse racing’s Hall of Fame. “I didn’t know if he could go the distance. He’s an unusual horse. This is probably the most important win of my life.”

Saint Liam, who had won the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in his previous race on June 18, finished nine lengths clear of the rest of the field. The final time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:48.33

Purchased for $35,000 as a yearling by Mitchell Ranch LLC, Leave Me Alone won for the fifth time in eight starts. In running the seven furlongs in 1:22.76, the chestnut filly made Kruljac, who has about 25 horses stabled in Southern California, a winner with his first starter at Saratoga. It also was his first Grade I victory.

“She will rate, but I thought we were very dominant with the speed that she has,” Kruljac said. “My biggest concern was the rail, but she keeps drawing it and she runs very well from there. She keeps getting better and better.”

Hide And Chic, part of the favored entry (13-10) along with In The Gold, finished three-quarters of a length in front of her mate for second. Both Hide And Chic and In The Gold are trained by Zito.

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There were four unbeaten 2-year-old fillies entering the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar.

Bully Bones is the only one who remains perfect after her game victory over 11-1 shot Acceleration and seven others in the Grade III.

Trained by David La Croix, the daughter of Hesabull, who had won her debut at 37-1 on April 23 at Hollywood Park, pressed a hot pace while wide, took the lead into the stretch and held off the rally of Acceleration. Ridden by Rene Douglas, she ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:17.36.

Indian Breeze, the 2-1 favorite who had won her first two starts at Hollywood Park, including the Landaluce on July 2, finished eighth.

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After watching the undefeated Lost In The Fog work five furlongs in 57.81 between races at Santa Rosa, owner Harry Aleo and trainer Greg Gilchrist unveiled another potential monster.

Frisco Star, a 2-year-old son of More Than Ready who was purchased for $175,000 earlier this year at a sale in Florida, easily won his debut against eight overmatched rivals in the eighth race and set a track record in the process. He completed the 5 1/2 furlongs in 1:01.65, bettering the mark of 1:02.20 set by Truly Rude on Aug. 7, 1982.

Russell Baze rode Frisco Star and was also up for Lost In The Fog’s work. Lost In The Fog is scheduled to make his next start Aug. 27 in the King’s Bishop at Saratoga.

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Mieszerski reported from Los Angeles.