Commandment turns back Chief Wallabee in Fountain of Youth; She Be Smooth stars in Davona Dale

Wathnan Racing’s Commandment surged up the inside to strike the front and courageously held Chief Wallabee safe by neck in Saturday’s $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park, confirming himself as a major Kentucky Derby contender in his first qualifying race. Irad Ortiz Jr. was up for Brad Cox aboard the son of Into Mischief.

By Into Mischief, who recorded his third Kentucky Derby win as a sire via Sovereignty last year, Commandment stretched to two turns and was dispatched as a 2.40-1 favorite following a convincing win in the one-mile Mucho Macho Man S. at Gulfstream Jan. 3. He stalked in midpack as Rockies Balboa sped forward to establish solid opening fractions in :23.16 and :46.89.

Solitude Dude, who tracked the pacesetter in second, made the first move, taking over lead rounding the far turn, and Commandment advanced to a threatening position behind horses nearing the completion of the bend. Chief Wallabee was also moving forward toward the outside.

Ortiz cut the corner while straightening for home, angling Commandment to the rail. Chief Wallabee had every chance to get past in deep stretch, but Commandment kept finding more to prevail, finishing 1 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.33.

The Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge series event offered points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale to the top five finishers.

Chief Wallabee, a well-regarded winner in his Jan. 10 career debut, ran well to be a clear season as the 2.90-1 second choice. Solitude Dude held for third and was followed by Bravaro, Jackson Hole, Bull by the Horns, Lost Money, and Rockies Balboa.

Bred in Kentucky by Lee Pokoik, Commandment sold for $500,000 as a yearling at the 2023 Keeneland September sale. He’s out of the Grade 1-winning Sippican Harbor, a daughter of 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb. Commandment has now won three of four starts, breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs the second time out in early November.

Cox said the Florida Derby (G1) on March 28 and Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland a week later are options for Commandment’s final prep.

Earlier on the program, Calumet Farm’s homebred She Be Smooth launched a dazzling move to overpower rivals in the $205,000 Davona Dale (G2), putting herself in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) picture with a six-length victory in her first stakes appearance. The Todd Pletcher-trained daughter of Lexitonian improved to 2-for-2 when completing a one-turn mile in 1:37.78, winning under wraps with Flavien Prat. 

A 2 1/4-length maiden special weight winner in late January, the chestnut filly progressed nicely while stepping up in competition and earned 50 points toward a Kentucky Oaks berth in the 105-point qualifier. She left the starting gate as the 5.80-1 third choice among seven three-year-old fillies.

She Be Smooth saved ground while racing in last through the opening three-quarters and began to gain ground rapidly on the far turn. Prat angled the chestnut wide approaching the top of the stretch and She Be Smooth blew past rivals into a clear lead while straightening for home, quickly opening a sizable margin and cruising home much the best.

My Miss Mo, who was overlooked at 26-1 following a runner-up in December’s Sandpiper at Tampa Bay Downs, held well for second after pressing the pace, outfinishing odds-on favorite On Time Girl, who never got seriously involved from off the pace. Omaha Bay came next in fourth and was following by Haute Diva, Swing Vote, and Imperatrice.

Her next start will come at two turns and She Be Smooth is bred to handle the added ground. She’s out of the millionaire Seattle Smooth, a daughter of Quiet American who counted the Ogden Phipps (G1) among her four graded wins. Quiet American is best known as the sire of 1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet.