Held Up By Irad Ortiz Jr
Wathnan Racing's Commandment improved his Kentucky Derby declares after diving late to land a thrilling Grade 1 Florida Derby on Saturday night.
Often thought about the most important trial for the 'Run for the Roses', this year's Florida Derby was fiercely contested and Commandment triumphed in a thrilling finish at Gulfstream Park when revamping The Puma on the line to win by a nose.
The Brad Cox-trained colt won the Grade 2 Eternal Youth Stakes at the track last month and tuned up for Churchill Downs with a strong staying performance under .
Cox said: "I thought he had a shot. At the sixteenth pole, with the ground he was making up, I believed he responded well. My frame of mind was all set, this is an excellent race and it's going to set him up for the Derby, win or lose. I'm thankful we came out on the ideal 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 2nd preferred for the Kentucky Derby on May 2 behind 9-2 market leader Renegade, who impressed in his trial when scorching away with the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.
Held up by Irad Ortiz jr, Renegade began to circle the field on the home turn and showed a potent turn of foot to diminish Silent Tactic and protect a four-length victory.
Like Commandment, the colt is by top American sire Into Mischief. He is trained by Todd Pletcher - who is now the race's most effective trainer on six wins - for owners Robert and Lawana Low and Mike Repole.
Pletcher stated: "I'm extremely delighted. I enjoyed the way he ended up. I'm really delighted for the Lows and Repoles."
It had 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 catches 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 been on his journeys considering that winning the race last year, finishing 2nd to Ka Ying Rising in the Chairman's Sprint Prize before filling the very same position behind Lazzat at Ascot.
The admirable seven-year-old completed a respectable 4th in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September before as soon as again coming up short versus 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 rear under Christophe Lemaire before letting loose a potent turn of foot and slaughtering Win Carnelian, who Red Mon Reve then passed for second.
" I was advised when again of just how strong he truly is," Lemaire said. "He took the bit himself when he became 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 rate to be quickly, so I wasn't fretted at all on the middle position. He had the ability to capture his breath at the corner, so he had the ability to run in his own rhythm."
On Satono Reve's standing, he stated: "He's a high-level sprinter and he's achieved excellent outcomes overseas too. He has a great deal of experience. His body is truly that of a sprinter. I think he'll have the ability to achieve great results at Group 1 level once again this year."
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