Ky. Derby works: Fulleffort, Commandment breeze for Cox

Business is picking up at trainer Brad Cox’s Barn 22 at Churchill Downs, where Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Commandment and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Fulleffort recorded published workouts Friday morning for Kentucky Derby 2026. Both breezed four furlongs in 48.4 seconds.

Commandment was the first of the two Cox trainees to breeze and worked in company with Louisiana-bred stakes winner He’s Late Again. The duo completed an opening quarter-mile in 24.4 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.4, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

About two hours later, Fulleffort worked a solo half-mile with an opening quarter-mile in 24.4 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.6, according to Nichols.

“Both horses worked great,” Cox said. “It was exactly what we were looking for three weeks out from the Derby. It’s an exciting time of the year, and it’s exciting to have some very nice contenders in this year’s race.”

Commandment will enter the Kentucky Derby on a four-race win streak dating back to his seven-furlong maiden victory Nov. 1 at Churchill Downs. Since that win, he captured the one-mile Mucho Macho Man, 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth (G2) and 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby.

“He’s progressed very well since he began his career,” Cox said. “Every time we’ve asked him to stretch out in distance he’s handled it.”

Fulleffort will make his first start on dirt in the Kentucky Derby. The son of Liam’s Map raced four times on turf as a 2-year-old before switching to the synthetic surface this winter.

“He’s a bigger, stronger version of himself than he was last summer breezing on the dirt, and that’s what is supposed to happen,” Cox said. “They’re supposed to get better as they get older. He worked all winter on the synthetic, but his last two works on the dirt were very good. As a 2-year-old, his works on dirt were just OK, and his works from the gate on dirt were just OK, so we decided to get him started on turf. He was successful on the grass and this winter on the synthetic at Turfway.”

Cox’s third Derby contender, Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Further Ado, galloped Friday morning and is scheduled to have two works prior to the Kentucky Derby.

Friday also marked the first time UAE Derby (G2) winner Wonder Dean trained over the Churchill Downs surface. The colt arrived April 1 and has walked the shedrow in Barn 17 each morning since passing a mandatory 42-hour USDA quarantine period. Kate Hunter, liaison for the Japan road to the Kentucky Derby, said it is normal for Wonder Dean to walk for several days after a race because he is a smaller-built horse.

Hunter also confirmed that Danon Bourbon, scheduled to arrive in the U.S. on April 21, would be ridden by his regular jockey Atsuya Nishimura.

Louisiana Derby third-place finisher Golden Tempo worked five furlongs in 1:00.8 Friday morning at Keeneland. Trainer Cherie DeVaux reported the colt will stay at Keeneland for his major Derby preparation and arrive at Churchill Downs prior to the 11 a.m. EDT deadline Saturday, April 25. 

The Saturday work tab at Churchill Downs is expected to include Stark Contrast, who could run in either the Kentucky Derby or the American Turf (G1).