Kentucky Derby dream alive for Commandment

In the race which has been so informative for the Kentucky Derby over many a season, Commandment kept the dream alive for Wathnan Racing with a last-gasp win in the G1 Florida Derby on Saturday.

It was back-to-back wins in the race for trainer Brad Cox, who has done a superb job in guiding Commandment to four straight victories from just five lifetime starts, including the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes a month before his important Grade 1 success.

Cox said on Sunday, “He’s obviously had a good winter there at Gulfstream. I felt like he took a step forward in every race. He was able to overcome somewhat of a softer pace up front [in the Florida Derby] and come around some very good horses and put his head down when it counted the most. We are fortunate and lucky and proud of the horse. We look forward to marching forward to the Kentucky Derby.”

In a thrilling three-way tussle for the line, Commandment was rousted by Flavien Prat after a determined late charge to grab the spoils at the wire, adding 100 qualifying points to his tally for the Kentucky Derby, for which the son of Into Mischief is now second favourite. 

“He’s very workmanlike. He’s straightforward, and he’s a fighter. He showed some guts down the lane,” Prat said.

“He’s a big, sturdy horse,” Cox added. “He takes his races really well and a couple people told me he was the paddock pick. He’s a big, sturdy horse and once again, once he comes out of it in good order, I think it will set him up for five weeks.”

The countdown is now on and the first weekend of May can’t come soon enough.