Commandment, Chief Wallabee Meet Again in Florida Derby

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." The 75th running of the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby offers 200 qualifying points (100-50-25-15-10 schedule) toward the Kentucky Derby (G1) and anchors a 14-race program worth $2.675 million. Historically, the Florida Derby has been one of the most productive preps on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, producing dozens of Triple Crown race wins and continuing to serve as a key launching pad, as seen in 2025 when Cox captured the race with Into Mischief colt Tappan Street. Of course out of that race, it would be runner-up Sovereignty who would become the 26th Florida Derby runner to win the Kentucky Derby while Tappan Street missed the Triple Crown races after injuring his right front leg in an April 26 work. Despite this year's Fountain of Youth outcome, the nine-horse Florida Derby morning-line is led by Michael and Katherine Ball homebred Chief Wallabee, who is trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado. The son of Constitution boasts the same trainer and jockey as Sovereignty and is the 2-1 favorite off a close runner-up finish in the Fountain of Youth. Hall of Famer Mott still seeks his first Florida Derby victory. Centennial Farms' Nearly, a son of Not This Time trained by eight-time Florida Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher and ridden by six-time winner John Velazquez, is the 3-1 third choice. Bred in Florida by Wind Hill Farm, he brings a three-race win streak to the gate, including the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Jan. 31 at Gulfstream. OGMA Investments, JR Ranch, and High Step Racing's The Puma is trained by Gustavo Delgado and ridden by Javier Castellano. The 9-2 contender, bred by Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn, exits a Tampa Bay Derby (G3) victory. Delgado and Castellano teamed to win the 2023 Kentucky Derby with Mage, after he finished second in the Florida Derby. Baalbek Corp.'s Wayne's Law, trained by Amador Sanchez and ridden by Marcos Meneses, is a son of 2020 Florida Derby winner Tiz the Law. Wayne's Law was bred by Margaret McFarland in Florida. Leon Ellman, Glassman Racing, and Laurie Plesa's Timeless Victory is trained by Ed Plesa Jr. and ridden by Jose Morelos. The colt, bred by Allied Racing Stable, has three wins on the Gulfstream surface. JC Racing Stable's Gregarious, owned and trained by Jose Castro and ridden by Rajiv Maragh, enters as a maiden and will make just his second start. George Krikorian bred the son of Mo Town. Pin Oak Stud's Albus, trained by Riley Mott and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, is a last-out maiden winner. The son of Yaupon was bred in Kentucky by Susan Casner. Calypso Racing Stables' Redland Rebels is also entered in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. He was bred by Hickstead Farm.