When a well-bred Into Mischief yearling passed through the 2024 Keeneland September Sale, Wathnan Racing’s USA racing manager Case Clay wasn’t about to let him slip by again. Despite the colt not meeting his $475,000 reserve at Saratoga a month earlier, Clay’s conviction only grew after seeing him twice at auction. The colt would eventually make his mark at Gulfstream Park, where he is now set to headline Saturday’s $425,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2).
“He RNA’d at Saratoga and came back in September, so I got to see him twice in two auction scenarios,” Clay said. “He’s a well-bred horse and I liked him enough to give him a go.”
That colt, Commandment, sold for $500,000 and has since validated Clay’s trust with a string of impressive performances. Commandment is now installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s $425,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2), the highlight of Gulfstream Park’s 14-race card featuring nine stakes, eight of them graded.
Commandment, out of Sippican Harbor—the 2018 Spinaway (G1) winner at Saratoga—finished fourth in his debut at Keeneland in October before breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs in November by 2 ½ lengths. His 3-year-old campaign opened with a commanding 6 ½-length triumph in the Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream on January 3, and he now takes on his first two-turn test in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth with 50 qualifying Kentucky Derby points on the line.
“Brad [Cox] is excellent at picking races. The mile in the Mucho Macho Man was perfect for his progression,” Clay said. “When he suggested it, it just made sense.” Commandment will be piloted by Irad Ortiz Jr. in his return.
Chief Wallabee Looks to Answer Questions
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will saddle Michael and Katherine Ball’s Chief Wallabee in the Fountain of Youth, despite some reservations about the colt’s limited experience. After a debut win over seven furlongs at Gulfstream on January 10, Mott acknowledges the step up is unconventional but believes the race will provide clarity.
“This isn’t the usual progression. Ideally, we’d have more races under his belt,” Mott said. “But the race will answer a lot of questions, and we’ll see how he handles two turns.” Junior Alvarado rides the Constitution colt, who is rated third on the morning-line at 9-2.
Turf Action: Thousandsticks Chasing Fourth Straight Win
On the turf, Silverton Hill’s Thousandsticks seeks a fourth consecutive victory in the $200,000 Colonel Liam, a one-mile contest for 3-year-olds. Trained by Brian Lynch, the Twirling Candy colt has won three straight, including the 1 1/16-mile Kitten’s Joy Stakes at Gulfstream, and drew Post 6 in a field of eight. Regular rider Mario Gutierrez will be aboard for the program favorite.
Other notable entries include Honey Dutch, racing without blinkers for the first time since his Sanford (G3) debut; Argos, making his season debut for Riley Mott after a Summer (G1) win at Woodbine; and Zeppelin, Vasy, I C Light, Knoty Knicks, and Behold the King, all looking to make their mark in the stacked turf division.
Saturday’s 14-race program at Gulfstream Park offers a rare convergence of stakes talent, with the Fountain of Youth (G2) leading the way and a total of $2.025 million in prize money across nine stakes. For many of these colts, it’s a pivotal step on the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) and a chance to prove themselves around two turns.
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