Comanment gained the $400,000 Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on February 28, proving he could make two turns and exhibiting he has extra stamina if wanted.
Headed out as the two.40-to-1 favourite within the nine-horse discipline of coach Brad Cox’s Fountain of Youth, Commandment chased down chief Solitude Dude and withstood a decided problem from Chief Wallaby, jockeyed by Invoice Mott, making his second begin, to win by a slender margin. He ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.33 on the quick monitor and returned $6.80 on a $2 successful stake.
By the way, this win equated to 50 qualifying factors on the street to the Kentucky Derby on Could 2 in accordance with the Woodford Reserve Leaderboard, successfully guaranteeing that he had sufficient factors to advance to the primary leg of the Triple Crown race.
Cox stated he appreciated how Airad Ortiz Jr. was disciplined all through, and was notably inspired by what occurred after the end.
“I assumed he (had) some good motion on his inside passes and completed properly,” Cox stated. “He began working properly once more…handed the two-turn take a look at.”
Cox stated the G1 Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park on March 28 is a “logical spot” for Commandment, given Into Mischief’s stallion’s monitor file round two corners, whereas additionally mentioning the G1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 4 as an alternative choice, relying on Commandment’s race outcomes.
Comanment collided with Bravalo at first, however then took his place in the midst of the pack, and Rocky’s Balboa, a 50-1 lengthy shot, took management early, getting by the primary quarter in 23.16 seconds and the half in 46.89 seconds. Because the race developed right into a far flip, the complexion rapidly modified as Rocky’s Balboa fell again and Solitude Dude, considered one of three Safie Joseph Jr. trainees within the discipline, took the lead across the three-eighths pole.
In the meantime, Ortiz made his commandments clear and continued to maneuver ahead. They inched nearer across the far flip and made a pointy flip towards the rail close to the quarter pole.
“Every thing has been going very well for him since day one,” Ortiz stated. “I belief him and when the area got here, he was prepared.”
Whereas Ortiz and Commandment made their means inside, Chief Wallaby made a four-wide sweep on the far flip to stage the sector all the best way to the straight and raced all the best way to the wire, however misplaced by a neck in his second profession begin and first route race.
Mr Mott described it as an eye-opening effort for the defeated Chief Wallaby.
“I believe he confirmed as much as compete in opposition to extra skilled horses,” Mott stated, including that the official “has 4 or 5 races to select from” in planning his subsequent steps.
The Fountain of Youth Stakes distributed qualifying factors for the Could 2nd Derby to the highest 5 finishers on a 50-25-15-10-5 foundation.
Chief Wallaby completed second with 25 factors. Solitude Dude held onto third place on his first strive on the second nook.
Joseph stated Solitude Dude’s effort was stable, even when the gap wasn’t perfect in the long run.
“The Solitude man ran properly,” Joseph stated. “He misplaced to 2 good horses in a visit that in all probability wasn’t his greatest.”
Bravalo, educated by Joseph, completed in 4th place. G1 winner Napoleon Solo, who returned to his 3-year-old debut and competed within the 1 1/16-mile race for the primary time, stood out from the beginning, however fell behind when he raced house and fell to fifth place.
Fifteen horses from Fountain of Youth have gained the Run for the Roses, together with 2025 Fountain of Youth winner Sovereignty, one other son of stallion Into Mischief. — Charlie McCarthy
