Held up by Irad Ortiz Jr

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eugenefairthor 01 May 2026

Wathnan Racing's Commandment enhanced his Kentucky Derby claims after swooping 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 hotly contested and Commandment came out on top in a thrilling surface 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 said: "I believed he took a crack at. At the sixteenth pole, with the ground he was making up, I thought he reacted well. My mindset 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, however was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby following disturbance.

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 sweltering 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 showed a potent turn of foot to diminish Silent Tactic and secure a four-length success.

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 said: "I'm extremely happy. I enjoyed the method he completed. I'm very 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 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

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 because winning the race last year, finishing second to Ka Ying Rising in the Chairman's Sprint Prize before filling the exact same position behind Lazzat at Ascot.

The admirable seven-year-old ended up a decent 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 grass as he settled towards the back under Christophe Lemaire before unleashing a powerful turn of foot and cutting down Win Carnelian, who Red Mon Reve then passed for second.

" I was reminded once again of simply how strong he really is," Lemaire stated. "He took the bit himself when he developed into the straight, changed leads, and after that he revealed excellent speed.

" His start was excellent and he was able to get the position I desired. I anticipated the rate to be fast, so I wasn't stressed at all on the middle position. He was able to catch 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 also. He has a lot of experience. His physique is genuinely that of a sprinter. I think he'll have the ability to achieve excellent results at Group 1 level again this year."