| Commandment | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Into Mischief |
| Grandsire | Harlan's Holiday |
| Dam | Sippican Harbor |
| Damsire | Orb |
| Sex | Colt |
| Foaled | February 23, 20231 |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Bay |
| Breeder | Lee Pokoik |
| Owner | Wathnan Racing |
| Trainer | Brad H. Cox |
| Record | 7: 4 - 1 - 0 |
| Earnings | US$1,377,3392 |
| Major wins | |
| Fountain of Youth Stakes (2026) Florida Derby (2026) | |
| Last updated on June 7, 2026 | |
Commandment (foaled February 23, 2023) is a Grade I winning American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2026 Florida Derby.
Background
Commandment is a bay colt who was bred in Kentucky by Lee Pokoik and is out of a mare he raced—Sippican Harbor, winner of the 2018 Grade I Spinaway Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack.3 Initially, Commandment was offered twice, once as a weanling at Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale, failing to meet his reserve at $485,000, and again at Fasig-Tipton's The Saratoga Sale as a yearling, with a final bid of $475,000. In the fall of 2023 at Keeneland's September Yearling Sale, Case Clay Thoroughbred Management bought the colt for $500,000 for Wathnan Racing.3
Commandment's sire is Into Mischief, a Grade I winner at the age of two who has been North America's leading sire by purse winnings in multiple years since 2018.4
Commandment is trained by US Champion trainer Brad H. Cox.2
Commandment was the leading qualification point earner in the 2026 Road to the Kentucky Derby.5
Statistics
| Date | Distance | Race | Grade | Track | Odds | Field | Finish | Winning Time |
Winning (Losing) Margin |
Jockey | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 – Two-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Oct 4, 2025 | 6 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Keeneland | 2.63* | 12 | 4 | 1:10.23 | (5+1⁄4 lengths) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 6 | |
| Nov 1, 2025 | 7 furlongs | Maiden Special Weight | Churchill Downs | 1.49* | 9 | 1 | 1:24.63 | 5+1⁄4 lengths | Jaime Torres | 7 | |
| 2026 – Three-year-old season | |||||||||||
| Jan 3, 2026 | 1 mile | Mucho Macho Man Stakes | Listed | Gulfstream Park | 0.50* | 7 | 1 | 1:38.23 | 6+3⁄4 lengths | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 8 |
| Feb 28, 2026 | 1+1⁄16 miles | Fountain of Youth Stakes | II | Gulfstream Park | 2.40 | 9 | 1 | 1:43.33 | neck | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 9 |
| Mar 28, 2026 | 1+1⁄8 miles | Florida Derby | I | Gulfstream Park | 1.90 | 6 | 1 | 1:49.99 | nose | Flavien Prat | 9 |
| May 2, 2026 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Kentucky Derby | I | Churchill Downs | 6.18 | 18 | 7 | 2:02.27 | (5+1⁄4 lengths) | Luis Saez | 10 |
| Jun 6, 2026 | 1+1⁄4 miles | Belmont Stakes | I | Saratoga | 6.04 | 9 | 2 | 2:03.49 | (1+1⁄4 lengths) | John Velazquez | 11 |
Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Commandment was the post-time favourite.
Pedigree
| Sire Into Mischief (2005) |
Harlan's Holiday (1999) |
Harlan (1989) |
Storm Cat (1983) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Country Romance (1976) | |||
| Christmas in Aiken (1992) |
Affirmed (1975) | ||
| Dowager (1980) | |||
| Leslie's Lady (1996) |
Tricky Creek (1986) |
Clever Trick (1976) | |
| Battle Creek Girl (1977) | |||
| Crystal Lady (1990) |
Stop the Music (1970) | ||
| One Last Bird (1980) | |||
| Dam Sippican Harbor (2016) |
Orb (2010) |
Malibu Moon (1997) |
A.P. Indy (1989) |
| Macoumba (1992) | |||
| Lady Liberty (1999) |
Unbridled (1987) | ||
| Mesabi Maiden (1993) | |||
| Blossomed (2003) |
Deputy Minister (1979) |
Vice Regent (1967) | |
| Mint Copy (1970) | |||
| Texas Cinema (1990) |
Mt. Livermore (1981) | ||
| French Flick (1978) (Family: 16-g)12 |
References
References
- "Pedigree of Commandment". Equineline. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- "Profile of Commandment". Equibase. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- Newman, Olivia (March 1, 2026). "Commandment Aims to Fulfill Derby Dream for Pokoik; The son of Into Mischief won the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) Feb. 28". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- McCarthy, Charlie (February 28, 2026). "Commandment Surges to Win Fountain of Youth; The Into Mischief colt earns 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
- "Road to the Kentucky Derby 151" (PDF). www.kentuckyderby.com. 19 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- "Chart for October 4, 2025 at Keeneland (MSW – Race 2)" (PDF). equibase.com. October 4, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- "Chart for November 1, 2025 at Churchill Downs (MSW – race 6)" (PDF). www.equibase.com. November 1, 2025. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
- "Mucho Macho Man Stakes Listed - (race 10)". equibase. 3 January 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- "Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa Grade 1 - (race 14)". equibase. 28 March 2026. Retrieved 29 March 2026.
- "CHURCHILL DOWNS - May 2, 2026 - Race 12 - Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve" (PDF). Equibase. May 2, 2026. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
- "2026 NYRA Bets Belmont Stakes - (Race 13)". Equibase. June 6, 2026. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
- "Polly Agnes – Family 16-g". Bloodlines.net. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved April 20, 2026.