Wathnan Racing's Commandment improved his Kentucky Derby claims after stroking late to land a thrilling Grade 1 Florida Derby on Saturday night.
Often thought about the most integral trial for the 'Run for the Roses', this year's Florida Derby was hotly objected to and Commandment triumphed in a thrilling surface at Gulfstream Park when upgrading The Puma on the line to win by a nose.
The Brad Cox-trained colt won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at the track last month and tuned up for Churchill Downs with a strong staying efficiency under Flavien Prat.
Cox said: "I thought he took a crack at. At the sixteenth pole, with the ground he was making up, I believed he responded well. My mindset was ready, this is a good race and it's going to set him up for the Derby, win or lose. I'm delighted we came out on the right end."
The last horse to win the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby was Always Dreaming in 2017. The 2019 Florida Derby winner Maximum Security also finished the double, but was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby following disturbance.
Commandment is now the 6-1 second preferred for the Kentucky Derby on May 2 behind 9-2 market leader Renegade, who impressed in his trial when blistering away with the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.
Held up by Irad Ortiz jr, Renegade started to circle the field on the home turn and revealed a potent turn of foot to run down Silent Tactic and protect a four-length success.
Like Commandment, the colt is by top American sire Into Mischief. He is trained by Todd Pletcher - who is now the race's most instructor on six wins - for owners Robert and Lawana Low and Mike Repole.
Pletcher said: "I'm very delighted. I liked the method he finished. I'm extremely delighted for the Lows and Repoles."
It had actually already been an impactful weekend on the Kentucky Derby front, with the UAE Derby initially and second Wonder Dean and Six Speed set to make the trip to Churchill Downs.
Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs, May 2).
bet365: 9-2 Renegade, 6 Commandment, 8 Chief Wallabee, The Puma, 12 Nearly, 16 Class President, Danon Bourbon, Emerging Market, Silent Tactic, 20 bar.
Sprint ace Reve captures Takamatsunomiya Kinen
In 2015's QEII Jubilee Stakes runner-up Satono Reve made it back-to-back wins in the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo.
The Japanese sprinter had actually been on his travels given that winning the race in 2015, finishing 2nd to Ka Ying Rising in the Chairman's Sprint Prize before filling the same position behind Lazzat at Ascot.
The exceptional seven-year-old ended up a respectable 4th in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September before once again coming up short against Ka Ying Rising in the Hong Kong Sprint in December, when he was ninth.
He was back to his finest on home grass as he settled towards the back under Christophe Lemaire before unleashing a potent turn of foot and trimming down Win Carnelian, who Red Mon Reve then passed for second.
" I was reminded when again of just how strong he actually is," Lemaire said. "He took the bit himself when he turned into the straight, changed leads, and then he showed terrific speed.
" His start was good and he was able to get the position I wanted. I anticipated the pace to be quickly, so I wasn't fretted at all on the middle position. He was able to catch his breath at the corner, so he was able to run in his own rhythm."
On Satono Reve's standing, he said: "He's a high-level sprinter and he's attained good results overseas too. He has a lot of experience. His body is really that of a sprinter. I believe he'll be able to achieve great outcomes at Group 1 level once again this year."
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Held up by Irad Ortiz Jr
alphonsodunaga edited this page 2026-04-28 10:18:18 +02:00