Commandment was sent off as the 2.40-1 favorite in a nine-horse field at the Fountain of Youth for trainer Brad Cox. Commandment defeated the leading Solitude Dude and withstood a determined challenge from second-time starter Chief Wallabee of Bill Mott to win by a neck. He covered 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.33, paying back $6.80 for a $2 win bet.
For the command, the win was worth 50 qualifying points on the Road to the May 2 Kentucky Derby presented by the Woodford Reserve rankings, essentially guaranteeing he has enough points to make it to the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Cox said he liked where jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. had Commandment the entire time, and he was especially encouraged by what came after the finish.
“I thought he had a good trip (with the) inside path and finished well,” Cox said. “He galloped out well again…passed the two-turn test.”
With Into Mischief’s colt already proven around two turns, Cox said the March 28 Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park is the “logical place” for Commandment, while also noting the April 4 Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland as another option depending on how Commandment comes out of the race.
Commandment ran into Bravaro at the start and then took up position in the middle pack, while the 50-1 longshot Rockies Balboa took early control, finishing the opening quarter in :23.16 and the half in :46.89. As the race developed into the far turn, the complexion quickly changed as Rockies Balboa pulled away and Solitude Dude, one of three Saffie Joseph Jr. trainees in the field, moved forward near the three-eighths post.
Ortiz, meanwhile, kept the command clear and progressive. They got closer to the far bend and then made a sharp angle to the rail at the quarter pole.
“He’s been doing everything so well since day one,” Ortiz said. “I trust him and when the space came up, he was ready to go.”
As Ortiz and Commandment headed in, Chief Wallabee made a big four-wide move around the far turn to get evenly spaced in the stretch and dueled all the way to the wire, but lost by a neck in what was only his second career start and first route race.
Mott called it an eye-opening effort for Chief Wallabee who was defeated.
“To compete against horses that have a lot more experience, I think he showed up,” Mott said, adding that the connections now have “four or five races to choose from” as they map out the next step.
The Fountain of Youth Stakes distributed qualifying points for the May 2 Derby on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis among the top five finishers.
Chief Wallabee earned 25 points for second place. Solitude Dude finished third in his first attempt in two turns.
Joseph said Solitude Dude’s efforts were solid, even if the distance ultimately proved less than ideal.
“Solitude Guy was running well,” Joseph said. “He was beaten by two good horses on a ride that probably won’t be his best.”
Bravaro, trained by Joseph, finished fourth. Napoleon Solo, a Class 1-winning juvenile returning for his 3-year-old debut and racing 1 1/16 miles for the first time, was prominent early but came home empty-handed, dropping to fifth.
Fifteen Fountain of Youth participants won the Run for the Roses, including 2025 Fountain of Youth winner Sovereignty, another son of sire Into Mischief. –Charlie McCarthy
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