We have always had an affinity for Edgar Prado. After all he was a key part of the article that started it all at Past the Wire. You can read what started us off here, No Apology Necessary.
Today was a special day for our man Edgar.
Jockey Edgar Prado won the second race at Gulfstream Park Thursday giving the two-time Belmont winner 7,058 career victories surpassing retired Hall of Famer Angel Cordero Jr. for eighth on the all-time list according to Equibase.
In a maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies, Prado handily piloted Flying Althena, trained by Wesley Ward, to a 5 1/2 length victory over another Ward-trainee, Lime (Iqbaal), ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. Campaigned by CJ Thoroughbreds Flying Althena is the daughter of Tiznow out of Uncle Mo mare Afleet Honey.
Flying Althena at 7/2 paid $9.00, $3.00 and $2.60. Lime, the overwhelming favorite at 2/5 paid $2.10 and $2.10. Whistler Dixie, Baby Mo and Great Warrior completed the board.
Prado has the mount for Ward on Friday, again in race two at Gulfstream, in a maiden special weight on Golden Pal. the 2-year-old Uncle Mo colt is moving to the turf after placing second on April 14 on dirt under Tyler Gaffalione.
Edgar is also aboard 5-year-old Themanbehindtheman on the turf for trainer Monica McGoey in race four and 4-year-old Lagoon Macaroon on the dirt in race nine for trainer Robert Hess Jr. Saturday at Gulfstream Prado has mounts in four races beginning with race three.
Prado, who turns 53 June 12, had taken a six week hiatus due to the Coronavirus but returned to the track May 8. The Hall of Famer’s last start before the break was a win in the final race on the March 26 program aboard Philip DiCosmo‘s 6-year-old gelding Belgrano, giving the Lima, Peru native 7,057 career victories and tying him with Cordero for eighth on the all-time list.
Prado voluntarily stepped away March 26 with three days remaining in Gulfstream’s 2019-2020 Championship Meet out of concern for his family during the coronavirus pandemic. Prado said he remained home in South Florida during his down time.
“It was a tough decision to make, but I have my family here, my grandkids, and I got outvoted,” Prado said. “Everything was up in the air. Nothing was for sure, so we decided not to take any chances.”
Prado enjoyed a career resurgence during the prestigious winter stand, ranking tied for 11th in wins (25) and 15th in purses earned ($807,710). Among Prado’s recent victories were Sally’s Curlin 10-1 upset of the Hurricane Bertie (G3) March 14, With Verve in the Feb. 29 Hutcheson for 3-year-olds, and Soros in the Smooth Air for 2-year-olds Nov. 30, 2019.
Prado won his first graded stakes, the Hawthorne Derby (G3), in 1988 on Donald Dizney-bred Pappas Swing. He won his first Grade 1 at Laurel Park in 1991 in the Budweiser Washington D.C. International on Leariva, Thierry van Zuylen‘s French entry trained by David Smaga.
Over the next decade he was the leading rider in Maryland winning 24 riding titles at Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park. In 1997 when he won 536 races, making him the fourth rider in history to win 500 races in one year. Prado led the nation in wins for three years from 1997-99.
Moving to his base to Florida in 2004, Prado continued to rack up stakes wins. In 2006, Prado won the Tropical Derby (G3), Holy Bull (G3), Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1) on the ill-fated Barbaro. He has also has won the Belmont Stakes twice (2002, 2004), the Kentucky Oaks on Marylou Whitney‘s Bird Town trained by Nick Zito, and five Breeders’ Cup races. Edgar received the Eclipse Award (2006), George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award (2003) and Mike Venezia Memorial Award (2006); and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2008.
Known for his caring touch with horses, Edgar has ridden many notable horses in his 30 plus year career including Kitten’s Joy, Better Talk Now, Lemon Drop Kid, Saint Liam, Funny Cide, Peace Rules, Birdstone, Silver Train, Lost in the Fog, Scat Daddy, Point of Entry, and Runhappy.
Among the seasoned jockey’s 400 plus graded stakes wins are: The Woodward Stakes (2000), Whitney Handicap (2000, 2004), Donn Handicap (2002, 2005, 2013), Spinster Stakes (2002, 2003), Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (2002, 2003, 2016), Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (2002, 2003, 2008), Florida Derby (2002, 2006, 2007), Matron Stakes (2003, 2004, 2005), Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (2003), Haskell Invitational Handicap (2003), King’s Bishop Stakes (2004, 2015), Diana Stakes (2004), Man O’ War Stakes (2004, 2006), Travers Stakes (2004), Mother Goose Stakes (2005, 2006), Coaching Club American Oaks (2005, 2006), Suburban Handicap (2005), Stephen Foster Handicap (2005), Cigar Mile Handicap (2008), Champagne Stakes (2008, 2009), Wood Memorial Stakes (2008), Jamaica Handicap (2009), Princess Rooney Handicap (2009), Humana Distaff Stakes (2013), Woodford, Reserve Turf Classic Stakes (2016), Manhattan Handicap (2006, 2018).
Ranking just ahead of Prado with 7,066 wins is 66-year-old Perry Outzs, who is based in the Midwest but hasn’t ridden since July 28, 2019 at Belterra Park in Cincinnati. They are two of just nine riders with 7,000 or more wins in North America, led by Russell Baze‘s 12,842.
Edgar’s career record stands at 39,103 starts with 7,058 wins, 6,185 seconds and 5,420 third places with $269,931,865+ in earnings.
Watch the replay of Edgar Prado’s 7,058th victory
Photo: Edgar Prado. Credit: The Maryland Jockey Club
Edgar Prado gets his 7,000th win. Credit: Edgar Prado Twitter
