Touted as the best prep race for the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve so far this year, the $1 million Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Zalapa at Gulfstream Park March 28 did not disappoint as Commandment edged The Puma by a nose in a tight photo finish.

In a dramatic renewal of the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby, Commandment surged widest of all in the stretch and nailed The Puma in the final stride, hitting the wire in 1:49.99 over a fast track for trainer Brad Cox with jockey Flavien Prat aboard. He paid $5.80 to win.

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Breaking from post 4, Commandment settled near the back of the compact six-horse field unhurried early as the race unfolded with moderate early fractions of :24.10 and :48.80 as Wayne's Law favored Nearly dictated terms before the closers came into play.

The Puma launched a wide sweeping move to take command through much of the stretch and fought gamely to the wire but it was not enough. Prat tipped out Commandment in the lane and the colt responded with a sustained rally to overhaul The Puma at the wire.

"I thought I had a chance at the eighth pole," Prat said. "He's straightforward, and he's a fighter. He showed some guts down the lane."

Commandment stamped himself as a leading Kentucky Derby contender with the victory, which earned him 100 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

The Puma ran a career-best race in defeat and settled for second for trainer Gustavo Delgado with Javier Castellano aboard.

"We thought we had him," said assistant trainer Gustavo Delgado Jr. "Other than that it was really exactly what we wanted to see before the Derby."

Castellano added, "(The Puma) ran a huge race. I'm very satisfied. Perfect trip. That's what we were looking for today. He gave me a very good run. I thought I had it."

Flavien Prat rode Commandment. (Coglianese Photos/Gulfstream Park)

With 150 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, Commandment sits securely atop the leaderboard heading toward the first Saturday in May, while The Puma (106 points) and Chief Wallabee (50 points) also strengthened their positions.

After saving ground early, Chief Wallabee angled out in upper stretch and rallied evenly between rivals but settled for third for trainer Bill Mott. He earned 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

"I felt like I was very loaded," jockey Junior Alvarado said. "I figured when I asked him he'd give me a kick, but he didn't. He just kept the same pace."

Nearly trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez finished fourth and collected 15 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

"Maybe he needed this to move forward. We'll see," Pletcher said. "We've got time to see how he comes out of it, train here a little bit, survey the complexion of everything."

For Cox, the victory continued a strong run in major Kentucky Derby prep races and reinforced his belief in Commandment's stamina.

"I think he put to bed the question of how far he wants to go," said Cox. "With the right trip, he can get it done at a mile and an eighth and a mile and a quarter." -- Charlie McCarthy