Held up by Irad Ortiz Jr
Wathnan Racing's Commandment enhanced his Kentucky Derby declares after diving late to land a thrilling Grade 1 Florida Derby on Saturday night.
Often considered the most important trial for the 'Run for the Roses', this year's Florida Derby was hotly contested and Commandment triumphed in a thrilling finish 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 efficiency under Flavien Prat.
Cox stated: "I thought he took a crack at. 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 a good race and it's going to set him up for the Derby, win or lose. I'm delighted 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 completed 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 scorching 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 powerful 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 trainer on six wins - for owners Robert and Lawana Low and Mike Repole.
Pletcher said: "I'm extremely happy. I liked the way he completed. I'm really delighted for the Lows and Repoles."
It had actually 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 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 captures 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, completing second to Ka Ying Rising in the Chairman's Sprint Prize before filling the very same position behind Lazzat at Ascot.
The exceptional seven-year-old ended up a reputable fourth in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September before when again losing 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 rear under Christophe Lemaire before unleashing a powerful turn of foot and slaughtering 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 then he showed excellent speed.
" His start was excellent and he had the ability to get the position I wanted. I expected the speed to be fast, so I wasn't worried at all on the middle position. He had the ability to capture 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 attained excellent outcomes overseas too. He has a great deal of experience. His body is truly that of a sprinter. I believe he'll have the ability to accomplish excellent results at Group 1 level once again this year."
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