HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – A decision on Prevalence’s next start on the Triple Crown Trail has yet to be made by the connections of Godolphin LLC’s homebred colt, who was an impressive winner of his first two career starts at Gulfstream Park.
Based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream’s satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Prevalence is among 25 sophomores nominated to the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa Saturday, March 27. To be run for the 70th time at Gulfstream, the Florida Derby has produced the winners of 60 Triple Crown races in its history.
The Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct and Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park, both scheduled for April 3, are also under consideration. All three races carry 170 Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 basis.
Trainer Brendan Walsh, who was traveling back to South Florida Wednesday from New Orleans, said he was unsure where the horse would run next.
“No idea yet,” he said. “We’ll see how he’s doing the next few days and go from there.”
Prevalence, a son of multiple Grade 1 winner Medaglia d’Oro and grandson of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper, was an eye-catching 8 ½-length maiden special weight winner in debut Jan. 23 on the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) undercard. A fever cost him a chance to run in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) Feb. 27, but he returned with a professional three-length optional claiming allowance triumph at Gulfstream March 11.
“He came out of the last race good and he’s back training away and doing well,” Walsh said. “We’ll see how he goes this week and then we’ll have a better idea.”
Among the probable Florida Derby starters are Courtlandt Farms’ Greatest Honour, impressive winner of the Fountain of Youth and Holy Bull (G3) trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey; St. Elias Stable’s Known Agenda, a smashing optional claiming allowance winner who is trained by Todd Pletcher, who has saddled a record five Florida Derby winners; Michael Shanley’s Nova Rags, the Sam F. Davis (G3) runner-up; Three Chimney’s Farm and e Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Collaborate, a 12 ½-length maiden winner under wraps Feb. 27 at Gulfstream in his second career start; Magic Stables LLC’s Papetu, second in the Mucho Macho Man and third in the Fountain of Youth; and Live Oak Plantation’s Soup and Sandwich, undefeated in two starts for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse.
Thursday’s Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool Guaranteed at $700,000
The 20-cent Rainbow 6 jackpot pool will be guaranteed at $700,000 Thursday at Gulfstream Park.
The popular multi-race wager went unsolved Wednesday for the sixth racing day since a March 6 mandatory payout. Multiple tickets with all six winners were each worth $500.22 Wednesday.
The jackpot pool is only paid out when there is a single unique ticket sold with all six winners. On days when there is no unique ticket, 70 percent of that day’s pool goes back to those bettors holding tickets with the most winners, while 30 percent is carried over to the jackpot pool.
WHO’S HOT: Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, fresh off a three-win Sunday, scored a double aboard Lease ($8.60) in Race 3 and Berhanu ($16.60) in Race 6.
Emisael Jaramillo doubled aboard Nimble Beast ($5.80) in Race 2 and Foolish Heart ($4.60) in Race 8. Paco Lopez also rode a pair of winners, scoring aboard Hera ($7) in Race 7 and Liesel ($5) in Race 10.
Trainer Carlos David saddled back-to-back winners, scoring with Hera ($7) in Race 7 and Foolish Heart ($4.60) in Race 8.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
