Commandment edges Chief Wallabee at Fountain of Youth Stakes

It might not feel like spring to those living in large swaths of the country. But to those longing for signs of the approaching change in seasons, Saturday’s Fountain of Youth Stakes — a steppingstone to the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby beyond that — provided a hint of warmer days to come.

Commandment lived up to his betting favoritism, just holding off lightly raced but determined Chief Wallabee to win the $425,000 race for top 3-year-olds at Gulfstream Park.

Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. guided Commandment to his third straight victory, putting him in a spot as a contender to reckon with in the March 28 Florida Derby.

“It’s a good prep and the first step in going to the race we all dream about, so it’s pretty exciting,” Ortiz said, referring to the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

Commandment, trained by Brad Cox for Wathnan Racing, entered Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile stakes off a 6 ¾-length romp in Gulfstream’s Mucho Macho Man Stakes in January. As a result, bettors made him the 2-1 favorite in the field of 10.

But Saturday’s victory required a bit more effort, as Chief Wallabee pressed him all the way to the wire. Chief Wallabee, whose trainer and jockey — Bill Mott and Junior Alvarado — won last year’s Kentucky Derby with Sovereignty — was making only the second start of his racing career.

“Of course, when you get beat like that, you’re disappointed,” Mott said. “But he ran really well. I mean, to run against horses that have much more experience, I think he showed up.”

Mott said he would take some time before deciding which race to target next for Chief Wallabee, but acknowledged that “we’re trying to get going late in the game.”

Saturday’s race set up as expected, with 50-1 long shot Rockies Balboa establishing the early lead, followed closely by stablemate Solitude Dude. Both Commandment and Chief Wallabee settled in toward the back of the pack early, but began launching their moves simultaneously nearing the final turn.

Commandment was able to save ground along the rail, however, while Chief Wallabee was forced to circle to the outside.

“Turning for home, it looked like Irad obviously put him in a great spot,” Cox said. “He had the inside path and finished up well. But he had to fight to win.”

Alvarado said with a little better racing luck, the outcome might have turned out differently.

“I had to make a little premature move just to get my position forward,” Alvarado said. “I hesitated a little to make that move, but I had no choice. Then I saw Irad coming through the three-eighths pole and I had to make a premature move once again. I have to say it might have cost me the race, but this is something we’re building on for next time. I doubt if those horses will beat me again.”

Solitude Dude took third.

Cox said it’s likely Commandment would return in the Florida Derby, calling it “the logical spot.”