Held Up By Irad Ortiz Jr
Wathnan Racing's Commandment enhanced his Kentucky Derby declares after stroking late to land a thrilling Grade 1 Florida Derby on Saturday night.
Often considered the most essential trial for the 'Run for the Roses', this year's Florida Derby was fiercely objected to and Commandment came out on top 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 efficiency under Flavien Prat.
Cox stated: "I thought he had a shot. At the sixteenth pole, with the ground he was comprising, I thought he reacted well. My frame of mind was prepared, this is a good race and it's going to set him up for the Derby, win or lose. I'm happy 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 completed the double, but was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby following disturbance.
Commandment is now the 6-1 2nd favourite for the Kentucky Derby on May 2 behind 9-2 market leader Renegade, who in his trial when burning 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 triumph.
Like Commandment, the colt is by leading American sire Into Mischief. He is trained by Todd Pletcher - who is now the race's most successful fitness instructor on six wins - for owners Robert and Lawana Low and Mike Repole.
Pletcher stated: "I'm incredibly delighted. I liked the way he completed. I'm extremely happy 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 been on his travels given that winning the race last year, completing 2nd to Ka Ying Rising in the Chairman's Sprint Prize before filling the same position behind Lazzat at Ascot.
The admirable seven-year-old ended up a respectable fourth in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September before when again coming up short against Ka Ying Rising in the Hong Kong Sprint in December, when he was ninth.
He was back to his best on home turf as he settled towards the back under Christophe Lemaire before unleashing a powerful turn of foot and trimming down Win Carnelian, who Red Mon Reve then passed for second.
" I was advised as soon as again of simply how strong he truly is," Lemaire said. "He took the bit himself when he became the straight, altered leads, and after that he showed great speed.
" His start was excellent and he was able to get the position I desired. I anticipated the pace to be fast, 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 achieved excellent results overseas as well. He has a lot of experience. His physique is really that of a sprinter. I think he'll be able to achieve great results at Group 1 level once again this year."
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