Commendable (USA)
April 13, 1997 – April 10, 2014
Gone West (USA) x Bought Twice (USA), by In Reality (USA)
Family 16-a
April 13, 1997 – April 10, 2014
Gone West (USA) x Bought Twice (USA), by In Reality (USA)
Family 16-a
A beautifully bred colt, Commendable was the beneficiary when both Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) winner Fusaichi Pegasus and Preakness Stakes (USA-G1) winner Red Bullet skipped the Belmont Stakes (USA-G1), making it the first time since 1970 that the winners of the previous two Classics had skipped the third leg of the Triple Crown. The remaining Belmont field was distinctly subpar and Commendable won the race in slow time. It was the sole highlight of his racing career, and his true merits relative to the best colts of his crop were exposed in the Kentucky Derby (when he was 17th behind Fusaichi Pegasus) and the Super Derby (USA-G1) (when he was effortlessly beaten six lengths by eventual champion Tiznow). He retired to stud with little fanfare and was eventually exported to Korea.
Race record
12 starts, 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$907,470
2000:
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Commendable had the strong body and straight hind leg typical of the Mr. Prospector tribe but was somewhat leggier than his sire,
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Commendable sired 114 winners (32.4%) and 1 stakes winner (0.3%) from 352 named foals.
Notable progeny of daughters
Miss Azhar (PR)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Commendable was bred by Edward Kelly Jr., Gregory Kelly, and Michael Kelly. He was owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, who bought him for US$575,000 from the 1998 Keeneland July yearling sale. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden to his Belmont Stakes win by Pat Day. He entered stud in 2001 in Kentucky at Mill Ridge Farm and was exported to Korea after four seasons. He died of strangulation of the small intestine in 2014.
Pedigree notes
Commendable is inbred 5x5 to Princequillo. He is a half brother to Prospective (by Gone West’s sire Mr. Prospector), dam of English Group 3 winner Primary (by Giant’s Causeway).
Bought Twice, the dam of Commendable, won three times from 19 starts. She is a half sister to 1981 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner and important sire Fappiano (by Mr. Prospector), to 1995 Prix Jean Prat (FR-G1) winner Torrential (by Gulch), to Grade 3 winner Portroe (by Mr. Prospector), and to stakes winners Royal Troon (by Foolish Pleasure) and Jedina (by What a Pleasure.) The last-named mare is the dam of 1988 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Clabber Girl (by Alydar) and stakes winner Famously Free (by Unbridled) and is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Keeper Hill and Grade 2 winner Golden Gear.
Bought Twice and her siblings were produced from Killaloe (by Dr. Fager), a pillar of John Nerud’s breeding program. Produced from the stakes-winning Correlation mare Grand Splendor, she is a half sister to Canadian stakes winner Paddock Park (by Tom Rolfe) and to Gonfalon (by Francis S.), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Ogygian (by Damascus) and stakes winner Lookinforthebigone (by State Dinner) and second dam of 1996 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Honour and Glory. Killaloe is also a half sister to Many Visits (by Intentionally), dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Tuxedo Mac (by Minnesota Mac).
Books and media
Fun facts
Last updated: January 21, 2024
Race record
12 starts, 2 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$907,470
2000:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Super Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Louisiana Downs)
- 3rd Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Commendable had the strong body and straight hind leg typical of the Mr. Prospector tribe but was somewhat leggier than his sire,
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Commendable sired 114 winners (32.4%) and 1 stakes winner (0.3%) from 352 named foals.
Notable progeny of daughters
Miss Azhar (PR)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Commendable was bred by Edward Kelly Jr., Gregory Kelly, and Michael Kelly. He was owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis, who bought him for US$575,000 from the 1998 Keeneland July yearling sale. He was trained by D. Wayne Lukas and was ridden to his Belmont Stakes win by Pat Day. He entered stud in 2001 in Kentucky at Mill Ridge Farm and was exported to Korea after four seasons. He died of strangulation of the small intestine in 2014.
Pedigree notes
Commendable is inbred 5x5 to Princequillo. He is a half brother to Prospective (by Gone West’s sire Mr. Prospector), dam of English Group 3 winner Primary (by Giant’s Causeway).
Bought Twice, the dam of Commendable, won three times from 19 starts. She is a half sister to 1981 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner and important sire Fappiano (by Mr. Prospector), to 1995 Prix Jean Prat (FR-G1) winner Torrential (by Gulch), to Grade 3 winner Portroe (by Mr. Prospector), and to stakes winners Royal Troon (by Foolish Pleasure) and Jedina (by What a Pleasure.) The last-named mare is the dam of 1988 Top Flight Handicap (USA-G1) winner Clabber Girl (by Alydar) and stakes winner Famously Free (by Unbridled) and is the second dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Keeper Hill and Grade 2 winner Golden Gear.
Bought Twice and her siblings were produced from Killaloe (by Dr. Fager), a pillar of John Nerud’s breeding program. Produced from the stakes-winning Correlation mare Grand Splendor, she is a half sister to Canadian stakes winner Paddock Park (by Tom Rolfe) and to Gonfalon (by Francis S.), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Ogygian (by Damascus) and stakes winner Lookinforthebigone (by State Dinner) and second dam of 1996 Metropolitan Handicap (USA-G1) winner Honour and Glory. Killaloe is also a half sister to Many Visits (by Intentionally), dam of Canadian Grade 3 winner Tuxedo Mac (by Minnesota Mac).
Books and media
- Commendable is profiled in Chapter 12 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2012 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Footage of Commendable’s Belmont Stakes victory can be accessed at Korea Racing in connection with the horse’s obituary (https://korearacing.live/tag/commendable/).
Fun facts
- Commendable’s time of 2:31 was the slowest for the Belmont Stakes over a fast track since 1952.
Last updated: January 21, 2024