Wathnan Racing's Commandment improved his Kentucky Derby claims after swooping late to land a thrilling Grade 1 Florida Derby on Saturday night.
Often considered the most integral trial for the 'Run for the Roses', this year's Florida Derby was fiercely contested and Commandment came out on top in a thrilling surface at Gulfstream Park when overhauling 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 performance under Flavien Prat.
Cox stated: "I believed he had a shot. At the sixteenth pole, with the ground he was comprising, I thought he responded well. My mindset was ready, this is a great race and it's going to set him up for the Derby, win or lose. I'm glad we came out on the best 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 interference.
Commandment is now the 6-1 second favourite 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 began 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 by Todd Pletcher - who is now the race's most effective trainer on 6 wins - for owners Robert and Lawana Low and Mike Repole.
Pletcher stated: "I'm extremely pleased. I enjoyed the way he completed. I'm really pleased for the Lows and Repoles."
It had actually already been an impactful weekend on the Kentucky Derby front, with the UAE Derby first and second Wonder Dean and Six Speed set to make the journey 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 records 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 since winning the race in 2015, ending up 2nd to Ka Ying Rising in the Chairman's Sprint Prize before filling the exact same position behind Lazzat at Ascot.
The exceptional seven-year-old finished a reputable fourth in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September before once again coming up short versus Ka Ying Rising in the Hong Kong Sprint in December, when he was ninth.
He was back to his best on home grass as he settled towards the back under Christophe Lemaire before releasing a powerful turn of foot and slaughtering Win Carnelian, who Red Mon Reve then passed for 2nd.
" I was reminded as soon as again of just how strong he truly is," Lemaire stated. "He took the bit himself when he turned into the straight, changed leads, and then he showed fantastic speed.
" His start was great and he had the ability to get the position I desired. I expected the rate to be quickly, so I wasn't fretted at all on the middle position. He was able to capture his breath at the corner, so he had the ability to run in his own rhythm."
On Satono Reve's standing, he said: "He's a top-level sprinter and he's attained good outcomes overseas too. He has a lot of experience. His physique is truly that of a sprinter. I think he'll be able to attain good outcomes at Group 1 level once again this year."
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