Prado aims for 7,000 career-win mark

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Business has slowed considerably for Edgar Prado in recent years, but the 51-year-old jockey still has milestones he intends to reach. Prado broke an extended slump at Gulfstream Park last Friday by winning a four-horse race on a 2-5 favorite, Sara’s Day, and entered this week with a 1-for-49 record at the championship meet.

Prado expects to have more mounts and winners after the meet ends April 1 and he leaves his Hollywood, Fla., home to return to the Maryland circuit, where he came to prominence in the 1990s before his Hall of Fame career hit full stride in New York. He has ridden 6,988 winners, eighth-most in North American racing history, with the legendary Angel Cordero Jr. occupying the next spot ahead of him on the all-time list with 7,057. Russell Baze is No. 1 with 12,842.

“Winning 7,000 is my goal,” said Prado, best known for winning the 2006 Kentucky Derby aboard Barbaro. “If things start picking up, why not go after Angel? Maryland has been great to me and it was good last year. I get more opportunities there and go different places. Hopefully it will work out again this year.”

Before Sara’s Day, the three previous winners for Prado all came in stakes at Laurel Park in December and January, and most of his success last year came in Maryland. His 54 winners in 2017 were his fewest since 1987, his first full year in the United States, while his career high of 535 wins came in 1997. His career mount earnings are more than $265 million.