Commandment Favored for Saturday’s G2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth

Mucho Macho Man Winner Faces Two-Turn Test in 80th Running
G1 Curlin Florida Derby Prep Headlines Card with 9 Stakes, 8 Graded

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Wathnan Racing’s Commandment, who caught the attention of the racing world with his commanding 3-year-old debut in the Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man, will make his anxiously awaited return to Gulfstream Park Saturday in the $425,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2).

The son of Into Mischief, who bypassed the Jan. 31 Holy Bull (G3), has been installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite in a talent-deep field of 11 assembled for the 80th running of Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile dress rehearsal for the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 28 at Gulfstream.

“I didn't want to run him back in four weeks in the Holy Bull, and I thought this race made good sense hopefully as steppingstone to try to get to the Derby,” trainer Brad Cox said.

Commandment came through in style as the hot 1-2 favorite in the Mucho Macho Man, rating in mid-pack before splitting rivals and drawing off to win the one-turn mile stakes going away by 6 ? lengths. The $500,000 Keeneland September Sale purchase had disappointed on debut Oct. 4 at Keeneland, closing from 11th to fourth going six furlongs, but he bounced back to conclude his juvenile season with a rallying 5 ?-length victory in a seven-furlong maiden special weight Nov. 1 at Churchill Downs.

Commandment has produced a solid series of five workouts at Cox’s winter base at Payson Park in preparation for his first start around two turns in the Coolmore Fountain of Youth.

“He performed well in the Mucho Macho Man, and I love the way he's been training,” Cox said. “The gallop outs in his works give us confidence he will handle the two turns.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., who was aboard for Commandment’s Mucho Macho Man triumph, has the return call in Saturday’s headliner on a 14-race card with nine stakes, eight graded.

Gold Square LLC’s Napoleon Solo will bring an unblemished record into the Fountain of Youth, in which the son of Liam’s Map will make his 2026 debut after winning both of his starts during his juvenile season in dominating fashion. He debuted with a 5 ?-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Saratoga Aug. 8 before capturing the one-turn mile Champagne (G1) Oct. 4 by 6 ? lengths.

“He was super fresh going into the Champagne. He was feeling good and had another breathtaking performance, where maybe he was a little too fast for his own good on that day,” trainer Chad Summers said. “From there, we decided to set him down and look ahead to his 3-year-old season.”

Napoleon Solo, who is rated second at 7-2 on the morning line, has produced a strong series of six breezes in preparation for the Fountain of Youth.

Kendrick Carmouche, who was aboard for Napoleon Solo’s debut victory, has the call Saturday

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. is represented by three entrants in the Fountain of Youth field, Chris Fountoukis’ Solitude Dude, Albert Ciuffetelli, Stephanie Brennan, Shining Stable LLC, BAG Racing Stables and Paul Braverman’s Bravaro, and Peachtree Stable and Mark Corrado’s Bull by the Horns.

Solitude Dude, who has finished all by himself in his three career starts around one turn, is slated to make his two-turn debut in the Fountain of Youth for which he is rated fourth at 5-1. The son of Yaupon has demonstrated a high cruising speed while running away with his Nov. 1 debut going 6 ? furlongs at Gulfstream, winning his stakes debut in the six-furlong Inaugural by eight lengths Dec. 6 at Tampa Bay Downs, and taking the seven-furlong Swale by 3 ? lengths.

“I think talent-wise, ability-wise, he’s the fastest horse in the race on figures, on all the figures, but he has to go out and prove it around two turns,” Joseph said. “His last work gave me confidence that he could get two turns at a mile and a sixteenth.”

Bravaro, who defeated fellow New York-breds in his two starts last year, turned in a steady second-place finish behind Nearly in the Holy Bull in his first start around two turns and first against open company in his 3-year-old debut. The son of Upstart, who is rated at 10-1 on the morning line, had been cross-entered in the Sunday’s Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park but is confirmed to run in the Fountain of Youth.

“We think he’s a talented colt. He won those two races in New York and we decided to give him a break and bring him back in the Holy Bull. He was second best on the day. He ran well. He was a little keen early. We felt like he was a little bit fresh. Since that race, he’s come back and is training really good. He’s had two really good breezes,” Joseph said. “He’s sitting on a very big race. I think, from all the signs he’s showing, he’s one of the top contenders.”

Bull by the Horns broke his maiden in his second start while winning a one-turn mile maiden special weight by 6 ? lengths at Gulfstream before checking in third in a two-turn allowance at Tampa Bay Downs.

“We feel like he can run late, and the distance will help him,” Joseph said while acknowledging the son of Essential Quality’s need to improve speed figure-wise.

Flavien Prat will ride Solitude Dude for the first time in the Fountain of Youth. Tyler Gaffalione has the return mount on Bravaro. Micah Husbands, who was aboard Bull by the Horns for his first two starts, has the call for the Fountain of Youth.

WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc. and First Go Racing’s Jackson Hole will enter the starting gate for the Fountain of Youth with the distinction of being the only horse in the field that has won a race around two turns.

The son of Nyquist, who won on debut at Gulfstream Dec. 13 going seven furlongs, tried two turns in his second career start Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds, where he led throughout the running of a 1 1/16-mile entry-level allowance by 5 ? lengths under Flavien Prat.

“This is a stern test for everyone. It looks like a very solid race,” Pletcher said. “The horse has been training very well. He’s been special enough to win both of his first two starts. He’s still learning. He was a little bit green in both of those races, but he was still able to win. He’s come back and has been breezing very well.”

Jackson Hole will break from the rail post position with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez up Saturday.

“Hopefully, he breaks alertly and gets good position going into the first turn. It looks like there’s quite a bit of pace in this race. It will be up to Johnny where he wants to be laying,” Pletcher said. “He’s not a headstrong horse. I think he’ll cooperate with whatever Johnny decides.”

The $1.3 million Keeneland September Sale purchase is rated at 8-1 on the morning line.

Michael and Katherine Ball’s Chief Wallabee is rated third on the morning line at 9-2 off an impressive debut victory at Gulfstream Jan. 10. The son of Constitution rated just off the pace in a seven-furlong maiden special weight race before winning comfortably by 1 ? lengths.

The homebred colt, the first offspring of an unraced mare, is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, who has awarded the return mount to Junior Alvarado with whom he teamed to win last year’s Coolmore Fountain of Youth with eventual Horse of the Year Sovereignty.

Charles Monfort, America’s Pastime Stables, Bloom Racing Stable LLC and Edwin Barker’s Rockies Balboa, who broke through with two open-lengths victories at Gulfstream in his last two starts against weaker, will make his stakes debut Saturday. Trainer Dale Romans, who saddled Promised Fulfilled for a 2018 Fountain of Youth victory, has awarded the riding assignment to Luis Saez, replacing Alvarado.

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding LLC and R. A. Hill Stable’s Talkin, who finished second behind Napoleon Solo in the Champagne before disappointing in the Remsen (G3), is entered in the Fountain of Youth, but is not a confirmed starter.

Special Aviators LLC and Joseph Imbesi’s Global Aviator, fifth in the Holy Bull, and Olga Diaz’s Lost Money, a three-start maiden, round out the field.