TOBA May Member of the Month

As the breeder of 3-year-old colt Commandment—a leading contender for the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs—Lee Pokoik is riding high in 2026. Owned by Wathnan Racing, Commandment has won four straight starts; his most recent—and first grade 1—victory came in the March 28 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Pokoik campaigned Commandment’s dam, star juvenile filly Sippican Harbor (a daughter of 2013 Kentucky Derby and Florida Derby winner Orb). Veteran trainer Gary Contessa, a longtime collaborator with Pokoik, purchased the filly, consigned by Dromoland Farm, for $260,000 at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale; consigned by De Meric Sales, she later RNA’ed for $110,000 at the 2018 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Bred by Justin Spaeth, Kalvert Spaeth, and Equine Equity Partners, Sippican Harbor went on to break her maiden in 2018 by 17 lengths at Saratoga Race Course before capturing the Spinaway Stakes (G1). After her racing career, Sippican Harbor, in foal to leading stallion Medaglia d’Oro, was consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency to the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Mixed Sale, where she RNA’ed for $1.45 million. From four named foals to date, she has produced two runners and one winner. Sippican Harbor has a two-year-old colt by Curlin—who sold for $180,000 to Shannon Potter (for Epic Horses) at the 2025 Keeneland September Yearling Sale—and a yearling filly by two-time champion sprinter Elite Power, a son of Curlin. Due to produce a McKinzie colt this year, Sippican Harbor is scheduled to be bred back to Commandment’s sire, Into Mischief, a seven-time leading general sire. Commandment has been through the sales ring three times, consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency in each instance. In November 2023, the weanling colt RNA’ed for $485,000; in August 2024, the yearling youngster then RNA’ed for $475,000. Finally, the colt sold at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, fetching $500,000 from Case Clay Thoroughbred Management (on behalf of Wathnan Racing, owned by the Emir of Qatar). Sent off as the 2.63-1 favorite, young Commandment made his track debut Oct. 4 at Keeneland. He finished fourth in the maiden special weight over six furlongs on the dirt. Since then, though, the colt has been undefeated. Things officially turned around a month later; November 1, Commandment broke his maiden at Churchill Downs, romping home by 5 1/4 lengths over seven furlongs on the dirt. He started out his sophomore season at Gulfstream, adding black type to his resume by winning the Jan. 3 Mucho Macho Man Stakes. Favored at odds of 1-2, Commandment delivered a commanding triumph, winning by 6 3/4 lengths over 1 mile on dirt. In his next start, the Feb. 28 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), Commandment served up a shorter margin of victory; favored at odds of 2-1, the bay colt beat out Chief Wallabee by a neck in a very good 1:43.33 for the 1 1/16 race. His next race was the Florida Derby. In this contest, Commandment faced old rival Chief Wallabee, as well as Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner The Puma and Holy Bull Stakes (G3) winner Nearly. In the Florida Derby, Nearly went off as the 7-5 favorite, with Commandment the second choice. At the wire, though, it was Commandment nosing out The Puma for the win, with Chief Wallabee in third and Nearly in fourth. The colt covered the 9-furlong distance in 1:49.99. Commandment sits atop the Kentucky Derby contenders leaderboard by points earned with 150. Commandment and Sippican Harbor are far from Pokoik’s first ventures into the world of graded stakes. Pokoik raced another filly who won a graded stake at Saratoga: Becky’s Joker annexed the 2023 Schuylerville Stakes (G3) at odds of 21-1. The daughter of Practical Joke later sold for $250,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Mixed Sale. Pokoik also bred and raced winner Classofsixtythree, a Contessa trainee who ran third in the 2010 Ruffian Invitational Handicap (G1). She has proven to be a gold mine as a broodmare. Sent to Exchange Rate, Classofsixtythree foaled Gunmetal Gray, who ran second in the 2018 American Pharoah Stakes (G1) and won the 2019 Sham Stakes (G3), briefly gracing the Triple Crown trail before suffering a condylar fracture. Sent to Gun Runner, Classofsixythree foaled 2022 Comely Stakes (G3) and Seneca Overnight Stakes winner Sixtythreecaliber.