LOUISVILLE, Ky.– If the outcome of the Wood Memorial (GI) had been different, Godolphin’s Prevalence might have been making a Run for the Roses this Saturday.
Instead, trainer Brendan Walsh has the homebred son of Medaglia d’Oro, out of the Ghostzapper mare Enrichment, entered in the 97th running of the $500,000 Pat Day Mile presented by LG&E and KU (GII).
The Kentucky Derby obviously presents a stiff challenge for any 3-year-old, but the Pat Day isn’t going to be an easy task for Prevalence, who will be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione out of the No. 5 post as a 6-1 choice.
He’ll be taking on Kirk and Judy Robison’s two-time Grade I winner Jackie’s Warrior in the field of 12. Jackie’s Warrior had won his first four races for trainer Steve Asmussen before tangling twice with Derby favorite Essential Quality — finishing fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) and third in the Southwest Stakes (GIII). He drew the No. 3 post with jockey Joel Rosario and was made a slight 3-1 morning-line favorite.
Prevalence, who was unraced at 2, has won two of three starts in blowout fashion. Walsh said that the Wood proved that he wasn’t ready for a mile-and-an-eighth.
“I think it was too far for him,” Walsh said. “We had to find out, and we found out, and going back to a mile on Saturday should be right up his tree.”
But if he had won the Wood instead of finishing sixth, Prevalence might have been Derby-bound.
“He probably would, most certainly” have run in the Derby, Walsh said. “But like a lot of horses, it didn’t quite fit him, so we’ll go back to what he likes.”
The Pat Day Mile will go as Saturday’s eighth race with a 2:48 p.m. post time on the main track.
The field for the Pat Day Mile, with riders and weights from the rail out, is:
1. Three Two Zone (Kendrick Carmouche, 118 pounds)
2. Ultimate Badger (Joe Talamo, 118)
3. Jackie’s Warrior (Rosario, 122)
4. Defunded (Irad Ortiz Jr., 118)
5. Prevalence (Gaffalione, 118)
6. Starrininmydreams (Luis Saez, 118)
7. Whiskey Double (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118)
8. Dream Shake (Flavien Prat, 118)
9. Sittin On Go (Corey Lanerie, 118)
10. Dreamer’s Disease (David Cohen, 118)
11. Noble Reflection (John Velazquez, 118)
12. Joe Frazier (Florent Geroux, 118)
Churchill Downs Press Release
Photo: Prevalence winning an AOC at Gulfstream in March 2021. (Lauren King)
