With top-ranked Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects including three who have each raced well in graded stakes at Gulfstream Park this year in Commandment , Chief Wallabee , and Nearly , the March 28 Florida Derby (G1) shapes up as a pivotal and competitive test that figures to have major implications for the first Saturday in May.
Trainer Brad Cox will seek to win a second straight Florida Derby with a son of Into Mischief as he has entered Wathnan Racing’s Commandment in the $1 million race at Gulfstream. Commandment, bred in Kentucky by Lee Pokoik, is the 5-2 second choice off a hard-fought Fountain of Youth win.
“I thought he was getting a good trip … inside path and finished up well,” Cox said after last month’s win. “Had to fight the wind and he galloped out well again. (Jockey) Irad (Ortiz Jr.) said he kind of asked him to gallop out past the second wire and he had plenty … passed the two-turn test.”…