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 thought about the most important trial for the 'Run for the Roses', this year's Florida Derby was fiercely contested and Commandment came out on top in a thrilling finish at Gulfstream Park when upgrading 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 performance under Flavien Prat.


Cox stated: "I thought he had a shot. At the sixteenth pole, with the ground he was making up, I thought he reacted well. My state of mind was all set, 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 ideal 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 finished the double, but was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby following interference.


Commandment is now the 6-1 second preferred 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 began to circle the field on the home turn and showed 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 trainer on six wins - for owners Robert and Lawana Low and Mike Repole.


Pletcher stated: "I'm incredibly pleased. 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 ( 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 catches 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 been on his travels given that winning the race last year, finishing second 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 4th in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September before as soon as again losing versus 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 back under Christophe Lemaire before letting loose a potent turn of foot and slaughtering Win Carnelian, who Red Mon Reve then passed for 2nd.


" I was reminded when again of simply how strong he really is," Lemaire stated. "He took the bit himself when he turned into the straight, altered leads, and then he revealed fantastic speed.


" His start was excellent and he had the ability to get the position I wanted. I expected the pace to be quick, so I wasn't stressed 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 results overseas too. He has a great deal of experience. His physique is really that of a sprinter. I think he'll have the ability to achieve great results at Group 1 level again this year."


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