Commandment wins photo vs. The Puma in Florida Derby

Commandment made a sweeping five-wide move on the final turn and outbobbed The Puma at the wire to capture the 75th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby by a nose Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Flavien Prat, the Wathnan Racing-owned colt rallied from last in the field of six 3-year-olds to complete 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.99 on the fast main track. The victory gave Cox back-to-back wins in Gulfstream’s signature Kentucky Derby prep, following Tappan Street’s triumph last year over eventual horse of the year Sovereignty.

“Proud of the horse. He’s a solid animal,” Cox said. “This is a good race and it’s going to set him up for the Derby, win or lose. I’m glad we came out on the right end.”

The race awarded 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers, and the Florida Derby has produced 26 Kentucky Derby winners – the most of any prep race.

Click here for Gulfstream Park entries and results.

Commandment (9-5) sat off the pace as Wayne’s Law carved out fractions of 24.10 and 48.80 seconds through the first half-mile with post-time favorite Nearly (7-5) pressing in second. Nearly, who entered off three straight Gulfstream victories by a combined 20 lengths, seized the lead on the far turn but could not sustain it.

The Puma (7-1), ridden by Javier Castellano, launched a bold move around the outside through the second turn and took command heading for home. Commandment trailed in last at the six-furlong mark of 1:13.00 before Prat tipped him out five wide and began his charge through a mile in 1:40.22. The two locked together in the final furlong, and Commandment got up in time to prevail.

“I was a bit worried because I wasn’t traveling very well the first part,” Prat said. “The pace wasn’t very fast and I was just in the back, and I thought I would be a bit closer. Then I tipped him out turning for home, he swapped leads and from there he gave me a good, solid run.”

Prat added that once he straightened for the stretch, the picture changed.

“When he turned for home it looked like Junior Alvarado [on Chief Wallabee] had plenty of horse and he was just going to get through and when we turned for home he wasn’t going anywhere. My horse just leveled off nice. From that point, at the eighth pole, I thought I had a chance.”

Cox said the narrow result answered a lingering question about his colt’s stamina.

“I think he put to bed the question was how far he wants to go,” Cox said. “I think the 1 1/8 miles, the mile and a quarter, with the right trip he can get it done.”

The Puma, who entered off a victory in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), finished second. Castellano came back pleased with the effort.

“He ran a huge race. I’m very satisfied,” Castellano said. “Perfect trip. That’s what we were looking for today. He gave me a very good run. I thought I had it.”

Gustavo Delgado Jr., The Puma’s trainer, took the narrow loss in stride. “We thought we had him, but other than that it was really, really exactly what we wanted to see before the Derby.”

Chief Wallabee (2-1), the Fountain of Youth (G2) runner-up trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, rallied to finish third, a half-length behind The Puma. Mott said the colt traveled kindly but lacked a finishing punch.

“As well as he was traveling on the bridle, when he released him he thought he would probably quicken a little more,” Mott said. “But, you know, it’s only his third race and they’ve got to learn to do that. He’s getting more experience, and it wasn’t a bad race. It was a good race.”

Nearly faded to fourth, 3 1/4 lengths farther back. Trainer Todd Pletcher noted the track surface may have played against his colt.

“He didn’t run bad. He just didn’t run as well as he’s capable of,” Pletcher said. Jockey John Velazquez echoed that sentiment: “The track was playing pretty slow. The track was against us today.”

Wayne’s Law and Timeless Victory (45-1) completed the order of finish.

Commandment paid $5.80, $3.20 and $2.40; The Puma $5.40 and $3.20; and Chief Wallabee $2.40. Commandment and The Puma clinched berths in the May 2 Kentucky Derby, and Chief Wallabee is likely in the field as well.

A Kentucky-bred Into Mischief colt out of Orb mare Sippican Harbor, Commandment won three of four starts during the Gulfstream championship meet. He took the Mucho Macho Man on Jan. 3, skipped the Holy Bull (G3) on Jan. 31 and scored in the Fountain of Youth (G2) on Feb. 28. A fourth-place finisher in his sprint debut at Keeneland, he cost $500,000 at the September 2024 Keeneland yearling sale. Morning-line long shots Redland Rebels (15-1), Albus (20-1) and Gregarious (50-1) were scratched.