Commandment passed the two-turn test in Saturday's $425,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park, employing an edge in experience to fight off Chief Wallabee and eke out a neck victory.
The Brad Cox-trained 2-1 favorited in a field of nine 3-year-olds successfully navigated two turns in the 80th running of the 1 1/16-mile stakes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Commandment's victory, which closed out a 14-race program featuring nine stakes (eight graded), earned 50 qualifying points for the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
Commandment, who captured the one-turn Mucho Macho Man Stakes going a mile by 6 3/4 lengths Jan. 3 at Gulfstream in his previous start, settled in fifth as 50-1 long shot Rockies Balboa showed the way around the first turn and along the backstretch. The undefeated trio of Solitude Dude, Napoleon Solo and Jackson Hole stalked. After fractions of 23.16 and 46.89 seconds, Rockies Balboa retreated heading into the far turn as Solitude Dude moved to the lead under Flavien Prat, chased by Napoleon Solo as Commandment and Chief Wallabee moved into contention in tandem.
With Solitude Dude under urging on the turn into the homestretch, Irad Ortiz Jr. cut the corner into the stretch aboard Commandment as Junior Alvarado swung three wide on Chief Wallabee. Commandment took a narrow lead mid-stretch, where Chief Wallabee quickly engaged him, and gamely held off his less experienced challenger to the wire.
Commandment notched his third victory in four starts to become one of the top prospects for the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 28 at Gulfstream – the premier prep for the Kentucky Derby won last year by Cox-trained Tappan Street.
The son of Into Mischief ran 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.33 to narrowly defeat Chief Wallabee, who made only his second career start Saturday off a strong debut victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Jan. 10.
