Held up by Irad Ortiz Jr
Wathnan Racing's Commandment improved his Kentucky Derby declares after stroking 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 revamping 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 comprising, I believed he reacted well. My mindset was prepared, this is an excellent race and it's going to set him up for the Derby, win or lose. I'm happy 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 likewise completed the double, however 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 .
Held up by Irad Ortiz jr, Renegade started to circle the field on the home turn and showed a powerful turn of foot to run down Silent Tactic and secure a four-length victory.
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 trainer on six wins - for owners Robert and Lawana Low and Mike Repole.
Pletcher stated: "I'm incredibly happy. I liked the method he ended up. I'm extremely delighted for the Lows and Repoles."
It had currently 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 records Takamatsunomiya Kinen
Last year'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 because winning the race last year, ending up 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 finished a respectable 4th in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September before as soon as 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 turf as he settled towards the rear under Christophe Lemaire before releasing a potent turn of foot and cutting down Win Carnelian, who Red Mon Reve then passed for second.
" I was reminded as soon as again of simply how strong he really is," Lemaire said. "He took the bit himself when he developed into the straight, changed leads, and after that he showed great speed.
" His start was good and he had the ability to get the position I wanted. I anticipated the pace to be fast, so I wasn't stressed at all on the middle position. He had the ability to catch his breath at the corner, so he was able to run in his own rhythm."
On Satono Reve's standing, he stated: "He's a top-level sprinter and he's accomplished great outcomes overseas too. He has a lot of experience. His body is truly that of a sprinter. I think he'll be able to achieve good results at Group 1 level again this year."
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