Held up by Irad Ortiz Jr

Wathnan Racing's Commandment enhanced his Kentucky Derby claims after swooping late to land a thrilling Grade 1 Florida Derby on Saturday night.

Often considered the most important trial for the 'Run for the Roses', this year's Florida Derby was fiercely objected to and Commandment triumphed in a thrilling finish at Gulfstream Park when upgrading The Puma on the line to win by a nose.

The Brad Cox-trained colt won the Grade 2 Eternal Youth Stakes at the track last month and tuned up for Churchill Downs with a strong staying performance under Flavien Prat.

Cox stated: "I thought he took a crack at. At the sixteenth pole, with the ground he was making up, I thought he responded well. My mindset was ready, this is a great race and it's going to set him up for the Derby, win or lose. I'm grateful we came out on the best end."

The last horse to win the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby was Always Dreaming in 2017. The 2019 Florida Derby winner Maximum Security likewise finished the double, but was disqualified from the Kentucky Derby following disturbance.

Commandment is now the 6-1 second preferred for the Kentucky Derby on May 2 behind 9-2 market leader Renegade, who impressed in his trial when blistering away with the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn.

Held up by Irad Ortiz jr, Renegade began to circle the field on the home turn and showed a potent turn of foot to diminish Silent Tactic and protect a four-length victory.

Like Commandment, the colt is by top American sire Into Mischief. He is trained by Todd Pletcher - who is now the race's most successful trainer on 6 wins - for owners Robert and Lawana Low and Mike Repole.

Pletcher stated: "I'm extremely delighted. I loved the method he finished. I'm really happy for the Lows and Repoles."

It had currently been an impactful weekend on the Kentucky Derby front, with the UAE Derby first and second Wonder Dean and Six Speed set to make the trip to Churchill Downs.

Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs, May 2).
bet365: 9-2 Renegade, 6 Commandment, 8 Chief Wallabee, The Puma, 12 Nearly, 16 Class President, Danon Bourbon, Emerging Market, Silent Tactic, 20 bar.

Sprint ace Reve captures Takamatsunomiya Kinen

In 2015's QEII Jubilee Stakes runner-up Satono Reve made it back-to-back wins in the Grade 1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen at Chukyo.

The Japanese sprinter had been on his journeys because winning the race in 2015, completing second to Ka Ying Rising in the Chairman's Sprint Prize before filling the very same position behind Lazzat at Ascot.

The admirable seven-year-old finished a respectable fourth in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama in September before when again coming up short against Ka Ying Rising in the Hong Kong Sprint in December, when he was ninth.

He was back to his best on home turf as he settled towards the rear under Christophe Lemaire before releasing a potent turn of foot and mowing down Win Carnelian, who Red Mon Reve then passed for second.

" I was reminded once again of just how strong he actually is," Lemaire said. "He took the bit himself when he became the straight, changed leads, and then he showed terrific speed.

" His start was great and he had the ability to get the position I wanted. I anticipated the speed to be quick, so I wasn't fretted at all on the middle position. He was able to catch his breath at the corner, so he had the ability to run in his own rhythm."

On Satono Reve's standing, he said: "He's a high-level sprinter and he's achieved good results overseas also. He has a lot of experience. His body is genuinely that of a sprinter. I think he'll be able to attain good outcomes at Group 1 level once again this year."

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