All eyes on Kentucky Derby hopeful Prevalence in Gulfstream allowance

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Few horses at the Gulfstream Park Championship meet have excited the public to a greater extent than Prevalence. The Godolphin homebred was spectacular in his only appearance, running off and hiding by 8 1/2 lengths on Pegasus World Cup Day, strongly suggesting he’ll be ready for another big stage before too long.

The spotlights, however, will be dimmed for at least one race, as Prevalence will make his second career start on an otherwise mundane 10-race Thursday card at Gulfstream. Trainer Brendan Walsh has found a stepping-stone allowance for the colt to use as a side-door entrance to the Kentucky Derby trail, and surely Prevalence will be something on the order of 1-5 odds when going postward in race 8.

Five other 3-year-olds will oppose Prevalence in a $52,000, first-level allowance going a one-turn mile out of the main-track chute. Tyler Gaffalione will be back aboard the heavy favorite leaving from the outside post.

Walsh had intended to use a similar type of allowance here two weeks ago for Prevalence, but the Medaglia d’Oro colt missed a scheduled workout when he spiked a fever beforehand and therefore missed the Feb. 26 race won by Known Agenda. It was just a few days of worry, as Walsh soon had the colt back in a familiar routine; a pair of timed workouts at Palm Meadows since that minor health scare preceded this eagerly awaited return to action.

“It’s tight, but if we can get through this race, I don’t see why we can’t run him back in one of the final preps” in early April for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, said Walsh.

Prevalence earned a gaudy 89 Beyer Speed Figure in his Jan. 23 debut at seven furlongs, and Walsh is hoping for a similar number on this slight stretchout.

Prevalence is so highly regarded he was made a 29-1 individual choice in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, which closed Sunday.

If the colt somehow stubs his toe, the most likely upsetter is Tio Magico (post 5, Junior Alvarado), a Sam-Son Farm homebred making his seasonal debut.

From the rail, the balance of the opposition is Southern Passage, Caxambas Candy, Slashing, and Distorted Limits.

First post Thursday is 1:10 p.m. Eastern, with the eighth going at 4:44. It’s part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6 (races 5-10), which had its jackpot emptied Sunday, when forced out by track management.

Mostly sunny skies and mid-70s temperatures are in the local forecast, meaning all six turf races are likely to be run as scheduled.