Commandment

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) appeared no worse for wear a day after eking out a win over The Puma (Essential Quality) in the GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. "He looks really good this morning," said trainer Brad Cox, who joined Woody Stephens and Todd Pletcher in garnering wins in the Florida Derby and Gulfstream Park Oaks (Bonnie Miss) in the same year. On the Florida Derby undercard, Cox won the Oaks with Prom Queen (Quality Road). "That's obviously a great accomplishment," said Cox. "We have a great...

1) We still have one more Saturday of nine-furlong qualifying stakes for the GI Kentucky Derby, but it's a safe bet the GI Florida Derby will be the odds-on choice for being the prep race most likely to yield the winner on the first Saturday in May. Commandment (Into Mischief), The Puma (Essential Quality), and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) each overcame different aspects of in-race adversity to arrive at the Gulfstream finish wire separated by one nose and half a length. All three will be...

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) came with a late surge to nail The Puma (Essential Quality) by a nose in a heart-stopping renewal of Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. It was a half-length back to 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) in third. Favored Nearly (Not This Time) tired to fourth. The Diamond Anniversary of the Curlin Florida Derby offered 200 qualifying points for the GI Kentucky Derby on a scale of 100-50-25-15-10 to the first five finishers. The first jewel of the Triple...

Seven GI Kentucky Derby winners in the last 20 years--including last year's winner and Horse of the Year Sovereignty (Into Mischief)--have used the GI Curlin Florida Derby as a launching pad to success on the first Saturday in May. Could we see another one emerge from Saturday's loaded renewal at Gulfstream Park? Chief Wallabee (Constitution) will look to punch his ticket to the big dance following a too-good-to-lose second to Commandment (Into Mischief) in a heart-stopping renewal of the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28....

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack provides analysis for Saturday's GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Both offer 100-50-25-15-10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Last Saturday's Results - Black Hornet (Essential Quality) looked to be making a winning move on the far turn, but cornered poorly and packed it in from there to finish eighth at 16-1 in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks. Blacksmith (Liam's Map) failed to get involved early and was a no-show sixth at 6-1 in...

'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution), the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth runner-up last month in his second start, was named the narrow 2-1 morning-line favorite and will break from post 2 over eight rivals for next Saturday's $1-million GI Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief), the Fountain of Youth winner trained by Brad Cox, is second on the morning line at 5-2 from post 4. Like Commandment, Centennial Farms entry Nearly (Not This Time) takes a three-race win streak into the...

We edge inside the two-month mark to the GI Kentucky Derby with a well-bunched Top 12 hurtling toward more lucrative qualifying points races at longer distances. 1) PALADIN (c, Gun Runner--Secret Sigh, by Tapit) O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter M. Brant, Brook T. Smith, and Summer Wind Equine, LLC; B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. Sales history: $1,900,000 Ylg '24 FTSAUG. Lifetime record: MGSW, 3-3-0-0, $848,250. Last start: WON Feb. 14 GII Risen Star Stakes. The 3-for-3 Paladin has racked up two wins in nine-furlong...

Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief) looked no worse for wear at Payson Park Sunday morning after taking the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream one day earlier. "He looks great this morning," trainer Brad Cox said. "We're real pleased with him." Winner of the Mucho Macho Man Stakes in early January, Commandment fended off 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Chief Wallabee (Constitution) in the Kentucky Derby point-earning qualifier. The 1 1/16-mile test serves as a prep for the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 29 at Gulfstream. While the...

It was a good battle on the tote and it carried over to the racetrack, as Wathnan Racing's Commandment (Into Mischief), sent away the 12-5 favorite, and 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Chief Wallabee (Constitution)--the 29-10 second choice--locked horns in the final furlong of Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, with the slightly more experienced Commandment taking advantage of a superior trip to prevail narrowly. The victory was good for 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. A two-time Fasig-Tipton buyback and sold...

When a field of 10 enters the starting gate for Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, they'll sure have some big shoes to fill. Twelve months ago, Sovereignty (Into Mischief) embarked on what would become a Horse of the Year campaign with a narrow victory in his seasonal debut and a little more than two months later, joined Spectacular Bid (1979), Thunder Gulch (1995) and Orb (2013) as horses to add the GI Kentucky Derby in the last half-century. Horses such as Union Rags (2012) and...

TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack provides analysis for this weekend's trio of GI Kentucky Derby preps--Saturday's GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park and GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct and Sunday's GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park. GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. - Commandment (Into Mischief) is a deserving favorite and the horse to beat in this absolutely loaded renewal of the Coolmore Fountain of Youth. He kicked off the New Year in style, splitting horses at the top of the stretch en route to a...

Last week's news that juvenile champ and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey (Into Mischief) was off the GI Kentucky Derby trail because of bone bruising resulted in a No. 1 vacancy. I went right down to deadline trying to figure out which of the top three listed below should be the new kingpin. I felt I could have made a cogent case for any of them being No. 1. However, I also feel that from No. 4 on down right now it's a kaleidoscopic free-for-all to round...