Tales from the Crib: Commandment

Apr 21, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Baby Commandment runs in the paddock (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

Orb, the 2013 Kentucky Derby (G1) hero, recorded his most significant win as a sire when his daughter Sippican Harbor went last to first in the 2018 Spinaway (G1). Now Sippican Harbor’s son, Commandment, tops the points leaderboard for the 2026 Run for the Roses.

Sippican Harbor raced for Lee Pokoik, who purchased her (via trainer Gary Contessa) for $260,000 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga. Reoffered as a two-year-old in training at OBS March, she did not attract the hoped-for price when bidding stalled at $160,000, and Pokoik kept her.

His decision was vindicated at Saratoga that summer, as Sippican Harbor flashed serious talent. Contessa started her out on turf, where she encountered traffic and checked in fifth.

Sippican Harbor was entered in another turf maiden, but it was transferred to the main track. She relished the opportunity to run on dirt, grabbing the early lead and drawing off by 17 lengths.

.@BklynBckstretch profiles Sippican Harbor, Brucia La Terra, and Slieve Mish, a trio of up-and-coming #Saratoga grads who prevailed in recent off-the-turf maidens https://t.co/LROYfdgBL1 (Jessie Holmes/@EquiSportPhotos) pic.twitter.com/HzrFshwEtr

— 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐧𝐞𝐭.𝐜𝐨𝐦 (@Brisnet) August 14, 2018

“Whatever she does, she does unbelievable,” Contessa told Teresa Genaro, reporting for Brisnet.com.

“She’s got the brain of a four- or five-year-old (mare). No pony to warm up, she doesn’t do anything in the paddock. She just makes it so easy.”

Contessa’s initial thought was to try the turf again in a lucrative stakes at Kentucky Downs.

“I think she'll be a spectacular turf filly,” the trainer added.

Instead, Sippican Harbor wheeled back at Saratoga for the Spinaway, held over the same seven-furlong distance as her maiden romp. The competition was deeper, led by 1.70-1 favorite Chasing Yesterday, the half-sister to Triple Crown champion American Pharoah.

Sippican Harbor was overlooked at 16-1. Her chances appeared to be undermined right at the start, when she got bounced around between rivals (watch her break from post 6) and dropped well off the pace. Last rounding the far turn, she steered widest of all, swinging for home, gained momentum down the stretch, and won going away by two lengths.

The Spinaway serves as a “Win & You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), so Sippican Harbor earned her way into the championship event at Churchill Downs. Again, racing far back early, she passed a few rivals but never threatened, finishing sixth.

The reason for her anticlimactic performance soon came to light. Sippican Harbor exited the race with an ankle injury, and she was retired that winter.

Around the same time, Pokoik was watching a promising colt he’d bred, Gunmetal Gray, compete at a high level. Out of Pokoik’s Grade 1-placed homebred Classofsixtythree, Gunmetal Gray had been sold as a youngster. He finished second in the 2018 American Pharoah (G1) and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on the same day that Sippican Harbor raced in the Juvenile Fillies. Gunmetal Gray went on to win the 2019 Sham (G3) at Santa Anita, raising hopes of advancing on the Derby trail, but his career was derailed by injury as well.

#GunmetalGray rallies to win @santaanitapark's #Sham (G3), a Road to the @KentuckyDerby points race 🏇🌹🏆https://t.co/ofYmPvZhDC pic.twitter.com/iCCmdw2orN

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) January 6, 2019

Sippican Harbor left the sense that her potential on the racetrack was unfulfilled. She might have developed into a Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender, and as Contessa envisioned, she could have flourished on the turf.

Yet Sippican Harbor still gave Pokoik his biggest victory as an owner. She made herself a worthy match for the best stallions.

Because Pokoik breeds to sell, he entered Sippican Harbor in the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Sale, carrying her first foal. She sparked plenty of interest as the bidding war escalated to $1.45 million, but that was below her previously set reserve price. Pokoik valued her as worth more, and he accordingly held onto her.

Sippican Harbor settled into her new life at Taylor Made Farm, where Pokoik boards his mares, and she continued to visit top stallions. Her fourth foal, Commandment, has turned out to be her best so far.

By perennial leading sire Into Mischief, the bay colt was born on Feb. 23, 2023. Just a month earlier, Derby rival Renegade also made his grand entrance into the world at the same farm.

Baby Commandment looks at the camera (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

Baby Commandment with mom Sippican Harbor (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

Baby Commandment runs in the paddock (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

Sippican Harbor and Commandment spy something of interest (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

Pokoik recalled the stream of positive reports from the Taylor Made team throughout his colt’s phases of growth and development.

“He did what he was supposed to do. He walked well, didn’t jump around, didn’t spook, easy to handle,” Pokoik summed up.

“He is an exceptionally put-together horse – all the pieces fit.”

Indeed, he was such a good colt, both physically and mentally, that Pokoik was almost tempted to depart from his usual policy.

“Well, I normally don’t keep colts, but if I were going to keep a colt and race it, that would be the one – great hip, great shoulder, great mind, a smart horse, and fearless.”

Commandment at about 4 1/2 months old (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

Pokoik nevertheless adhered to his business plan by testing the waters at the sales. The colt’s first auction appearance came as a weanling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November, but the top bid of $485,000 wasn’t enough for his breeder to sell.

As a yearling, the colt headed to the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale, the same boutique venue where Pokoik had acquired Sippican Harbor. Once again, he was led out unsold when bidding maxed out at $475,000.

“I thought he was worth a lot more money,” Pokoik said. “There was nothing wrong with him.”

But shortly afterward, at Keeneland September, the colt finally sold for $500,000. The slightly higher price wasn’t the only factor.

“I was traveling when he sold the third time,” Pokoik said, revealing that he was not at Keeneland when the gavel came down.

Commandment poses as a yearling before the Keeneland September Sale (Photo by Kelcey Loges/Taylor Made Farm)

The astute buyer was Case Clay, acting on behalf of Wathnan Racing. The Emir of Qatar’s operation was just established in 2022, but it’s already emerged as a global power by winning major races from Royal Ascot and Deauville to Dubai, where Hit Show famously upset last year’s World Cup (G1).

The stable’s name, however, is steeped in the heritage of the Qatari royal family. Their fabled Arabian stallion was called Wathnan, “crown of ears.”  As a poetic description of his pricked ears, it reflected his willing attitude.

Now named Commandment, the colt would join Brad Cox, Hit Show’s trainer. Cox has already won the Derby, albeit when Mandaloun (2021) was promoted via disqualification, and he has trained such champions as Horse of the Year Knicks Go and two-time Eclipse Award winners Monomoy Girl and Essential Quality.

Commandment didn’t race until the fall, when he debuted as the favorite in a six-furlong maiden at Keeneland. His late rally for fourth hinted that he’d improve, and indeed, he hasn’t lost since. Dispatched as an even stronger favorite in a seven-furlong maiden at Churchill Downs, he muscled his way between foes and rolled by 5 1/4 lengths.

Commandment pushes through rivals to break his maiden in R6 at @churchilldowns under @jaimetorresjcky for trainer @bradcoxracing! 🤩

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/dw9V66VFZ2

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) November 1, 2025

Stakes company now beckoned, and Commandment dominated the Mucho Macho Man S. around a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Park. The 1-2 favorite not only powered past his rivals by 6 3/4 lengths at the wire, but he poured it on through the gallop-out, and well down the backstretch, before finally pulling up.

Commandment has gone on to capture both the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) in the manner of a strong closer, turning the double as grandpa Orb did on his Road to the Kentucky Derby. Commandment’s margins of victory have been narrower, but he’s giving the impression of a colt with something up his sleeve.

COMMANDMENT nails THE PUMA on the wire in the G1 Florida Derby! 🌹 @bradcoxracing @KentuckyDerby pic.twitter.com/vqMmh7SWkk

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 29, 2026

“He’s slow at the break, but he splits horses,” Pokoik said of the colt’s unflinching running style. “He’s your one-run horse, coming from behind and just doing enough. He just goes and goes.”

Commandment’s relentless finishes have propelled him to the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, with 150 points. Orb likewise ranked number one in 2013, the first year of qualifying by the Derby points system.

If Commandment can complete the parallel by winning the Kentucky Derby, he’d pay homage to Orb, and perhaps give some vicarious fulfillment to Sippican Harbor.