Commandment proved he could go two turns and indicated that he had more stamina if needed with his win in the $400,000 Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes Feb. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Sent off as the 2.40-1 favorite in a nine-horse field in the Fountain of Youth for trainer Brad Cox, Commandment wore down leading Solitude Dude and withstood a determined challenge from the Bill Mott second-time starter Chief Wallabee to win by a neck. He covered 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:43.33 and returned $6.80 for a $2 win wager.

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For ommandment, the win was worth 50 qualifying points on the Road to the May 2 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve leaderboard, essentially guaranteeing that he has sufficient points to make the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Cox said he liked where jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. had Commandment throughout, and he was especially encouraged by what came after the finish.

"I thought he was getting a good trip (with the) inside path and finished up well," Cox said. "He galloped out well again ... passed the two-turn test."

With the colt sired by Into Mischief now proven around two turns, Cox said the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park is the "logical spot" for Commandment, while also noting the April 4 Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland as another option depending on how Commandment comes out of the race.

Commandment bumped with Bravaro at the start, then assumed position in mid-pack while 50-1 longshot Rockies Balboa seized early control carving out the opening quarter in :23.16 and the half in :46.89. As the race developed into the far turn, the complexion changed quickly as Rockies Balboa retreated, and Solitude Dude, one of three Saffie Joseph Jr. trainees in the field, moved to the front near the three-eighths pole.

Ortiz, meanwhile, kept Commandment in the clear and advancing. They edged closer around the far turn, then angled sharply to the rail near the quarter pole.

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"He's been doing everything so good since Day One," Ortiz said. "I trust him and when the space came, he was ready to go."

While Ortiz and Commandment went through inside, Chief Wallabee made a sweeping four-wide move around the far turn to reach even terms into the stretch and dueled all the way to the wire only to lose by a neck in what was just his second career start and first route race.

Mott called it an eye-opening effort for Chief Wallabee in defeat.

"To run against horses that have much more experience, I think he showed up," Mott said, adding that the connections now have "four or five races to choose from" as they map out the next step.

The Fountain of Youth Stakes distributed qualifying points toward the May 2 Derby on a 50-25-15-10-5 basis to its top five finishers.

Chief Wallabee earned 25 points for second. Solitude Dude held third in his first try at two turns.

Joseph said Solitude Dude's effort was solid, even if the distance might not ultimately prove ideal.

"Solitude Dude ran well," Joseph said. "He got beat by two good horses at a trip that's probably not going to be his best."

The Joseph-trained Bravaro finished fourth. Napoleon Solo, a Grade 1-winning juvenile returning for his 3-year-old debut and racing 1 1/16 miles for the first time, was prominent early but came up empty turning for home and faded to fifth.

Fifteen participants from the Fountain of Youth have gone on to win the Run for the Roses, including the 2025 Fountain of Youth winner Sovereignty, another son of the sire Into Mischief. -- Charlie McCarthy