Commandment ‘Progressing So Nicely’ Ahead of Fountain of Youth

[Wandering Eyes]

Commandment (Into Mischief), a dominating winner of the Mucho Macho Man S. Jan. 3, will make his next start in the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park Feb. 28.

The Wathnan Racing colorbearer returned to the worktab for trainer Brad Cox with a four-furlong breeze in :50.60 (16/27) at Payson Park Jan. 23.

“Not long after the Mucho Macho Man, Brad (Cox) was thinking about the Fountain of Youth as a spaced-out target,” said Case Clay, Wathnan's Racing Manager, USA. “He looks great and Brad's happy with him.”

Commandment, a $500,000 Keeneland September graduate and son of GI Spinaway S. winner Sippican Harbor (Orb), was highlighted in these same pages following a fourth-place finish as the 5-2 favorite in a live maiden special weight first out at Keeneland Oct. 4.

He followed up with a visually impressive maiden win going seven furlongs at Churchill Downs Nov. 1 and kicked off the New Year in style with a 6 3/4-length victory going a one-turn mile in the Mucho Macho Man, good for a 91 Beyer Speed Figure.

WOW! COMMANDMENT ($3.00) won with conviction in the $175,000 Mucho Macho Man Stakes at @GulfstreamPark. Another winner by @spendthriftfarm's Into Mischief! @bradcoxracing conditions the 3YO colt. @iradortiz coasted home on the son of G1 Spinaway winner Sippican Harbor. pic.twitter.com/GqQovRg3rn

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 3, 2026

The Fountain of Youth–also expected to attract last year's recently crowned unbeaten 2-year-old champion and 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Ted Noffey (Into Mischief)–will be Commandment's two-turn debut.

“He's progressing so nicely,” Clay said. “Brad was quite confident in how he was leading up to the (Mucho Macho Man). He seems like he's a fighter. The water is gonna get deeper for sure, so we'll see how he stacks up there. But, so far, so good.”

Commandment isn't Wathnan Racing's–the nom-de-course of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani–only promising sophomore.

Thunderously (Gun Runner) announced his presence with a five-length debut victory around two turns for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Jan. 10. He earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. The $300,000 Keeneland September purchase was produced by Princess Warrior (Midshipman), winner of the 2018 GII Mrs. Revere S. and runner-up in the previous year's GI Darley Alcibiades S.

“Following Bill's lead,” Clay said. “The (Kentucky) Derby may come up quickly for him. We've been talking about not pushing him too hard and letting him progress. As we dream, maybe we're Belmont (Stakes) dreaming, which sounds absurd as we're talking about Grade Ones after a first start, but one can dream. We'll just let the horse tell us what's next for him.”

CABOOM

THUNDEROUSLY ($9.60) ran a banger with @JuniorandKellyA up in the 8th at @GulfstreamPark. The 3YO Gun Runner (@Three_Chimneys) colt is trained by Bill Mott for Wathnan Racing.

Play the next: https://t.co/tHc1sm6ZIw pic.twitter.com/LEXPf3nZsI

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) January 10, 2026

Noble Affair (Vekoma), a rallying third in his debut sprinting over the Fair Grounds lawn Dec. 27, was a game wire-to-wire winner on the main track for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen in New Orleans Jan. 24. Produced by the unraced Rockport Harbor mare Paden Affair, the $600,000 OBS April breezer stopped the timer for six furlongs in a sharp 1:09.84. He received a 93 Beyer.

“He's an exciting horse,” Clay said. “Steve (Asmussen) started him by design on the grass. He tends to have one speed, which is go go go. The thought was to get him to not run off and rate a bit and he did. He came flying at the end, and then in Saturday's race, he took the lead and went. Steve will pick the spot that's best for him. We thought very highly of him from the start.”

Last term's GII Los Alamitos Futurity runner-up and maiden of four career starts Blacksmith (Liam's Map), meanwhile, will make his next attempt for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert in an upcoming maiden special weight at Santa Anita, per Clay. The $525,000 Keeneland September buy hails from the extended female family of Classic winners Rags to Riches, Jazil, Arcangelo, et al.

“Very excited about these prospects and hopefully we can get lucky,” Clay concluded.

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