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Commandement dominates the Mucho Macho Man, Gulfstream Park Photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Wathnan Racing’s Commandment, both during the race as well as an eye-catching gallop-out afterward, stamped himself a 3-year-old to watch on the Triple Crown trail with a dominant 6 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s $175,000 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park.
The 15th running of the Mucho Macho Man for newly turned 3-year-olds going a one-turn mile on the main track is Gulfstream’s first step on the road to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1), the country’s leading Triple Crown prep celebrating its 75th running March 28.
Ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. for trainer Brad Cox, Commandment ($3) launched his sophomore season two months after graduating second time out in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Churchill Downs. Ortiz was also up for his Oct. 4 debut at Keeneland going six furlongs, where he finished fourth. He has been favored in each of his starts.
“Big performance,” Cox said. “I started him off three-quarters and we thought that he would stretch out off his first run with the big gallop out in his race. We brought him along step by step – I guess furlong by furlong – and he’s responded well.”
Breaking from the rail in a field of seven as the 1-2 favorite, Commandment saved ground racing in fourth as Cabourg ran the opening quarter-mile in 24.09 seconds to hold a slim margin over Epic Summer pressing to his outside in second. Thunder Chuck, a 21-1 longshot that drew the far outside post, was able to make a initial run to sit in the clear in third.
The half went in 47.38 as Cabourg began to retreat and Epic Summer inherited the top spot midway around the far turn with Thunder Chuck continuing to chase in third, moving to second as Epic Summer ran six furlongs in 1:10.16. Ortiz was still fifth at that point, less than two lengths from the front, and angling to make a move.
“He’s not a great gate horse,” Cox said. “He’s good, but I just told Irad to let him break and kind of find his stride, get him in a comfortable rhythm, and he did. He was able to save ground, split horses, and finish up well.”
Ortiz got his opportunity once straightened for home, barging between horses at the top of the stretch to wrest the lead away from Epic Summer and draw off impressively to win in 1:38.23 over a fast main track, showing plenty of energy after the wire and further separating from his rivals galloping to the backstretch before returning to the winner’s circle.
“He broke good. He has a great mind, so let him be him and when it was time to roll, find some room and let him do the rest,” Ortiz said. “He looked really, really good after the race, too.
“I liked the horse since day one when I rode him going short at Keeneland. I thought he could go longer. After that he won [at Churchill] and today again, so everything is going the right way,” he added. “I think he’s a cool horse.”
Roger That Dana made a late run to be second at odds of 23-1, 1 ¾ lengths ahead of Thunder Chuck. They were followed by Max Capacity, Epic Summer, Tripp’s Promise and Cabourg. Blame Yasself, who ran against Holy Bull candidate Nearly in a Friday allowance, and longshot Mr. Hooligan were scratched.
The margin of victory matched the stakes record set by Itsmyluckyday in 2013 when the race was contested as the Gulfstream Park Derby.
Commandment is by leading sire Into Mischief whose mother, Sippican Harbor, won the Spinaway (G1) in 2018 and grandsire, Orb, won the Florida Derby and Kentucky Derby (G1) in 2013. Bred in Kentucky, he fetched $500,000 as a 2024 yearling.
Cox was unsure of the next step for Commandment. Gulfstream’s series of 3-year-old stakes continues with the $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) Jan. 31 and $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 28, both going 1 1/16 miles around two turns.
“I really don’t know. We’ll talk it over with the [owners] and come up with a plan, but it will definitely be around two turns,” Cox said. “We have to give him that shot. He acts like he’s going to be able to do it. Irad seemed pretty confident after the race, so we’ll see where we are.”
Trained by Gulfstream-based Kathy Ritvo and co-owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Stronach Stables, Mucho Macho Man gained a huge following during his racing career whose many fans included the Village People. He won nine of 25 starts including the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) and 2012 Gulfstream Park Handicap (G2).
