Prado back in saddle for two stakes

Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado will ride for the first time since sustaining a neck injury at Keeneland a month ago on Saturday’s program at Gulfstream Park. Prado, 46, is named on mounts in three races, including both of the $75,000 stakes on the card, the Honey Ryder for 3-year-old fillies and the Big Drama for older sprinters.

Prado’s short stint in Florida is designed to get him ready for full-time action in New York next week. He has been exercising horses during the morning this week at Belmont Park, his first action since he fractured his C7 vertebra during training hours at Keeneland on April 10.

“I feel much better,” Prado told officials at Gulfstream on Wednesday. “I did my rehabilitation and been riding the past three days. Absolutely, I’m looking forward to riding Saturday.”

Prado said he’s not sure where he will ride Sunday but left open the possibility of extending his stay in south Florida.

“It depends,” he said. “If there’s nothing in New York, I will stay here.”

Prado’s most intriguing stakes mount is Risk Factor in the 6 1/2-furlong Big Drama (race 8). Risk Factor will renew his rivalry with City of Weston, a Grade 3 winner last fall at Parx Racing. In April 2013, City of Weston won a three-horse photo in the seven-furlong Sophomore Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs, finishing a head in front of third-place finisher Risk Factor.

Risk Factor’s recent form has been sharp. He missed by a neck going seven furlongs two starts ago, then came back to romp by 10 1/4 lengths in a first-level optional $25,000 claimer, earning a career-high 93 Beyer Speed Figure.

City of Weston launched his 2014 campaign in a restricted stakes at Tampa on April 5. He rallied from eighth to finish second going six furlongs and might be tighter for the second start of his form cycle. He won the 2013 running of the Big Drama when it was contested at six furlongs at Calder.

The field of 10 includes Dad’z Laugh, a runner-up in his last four starts with Beyers ranging from 91 to 99, and Narvaez, second at 139-1 in the Grade 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint three races ago.

Prado will ride Marnesia Wild Heir in the Honey Ryder, scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf. A deep closer, Marnesia Wild Heir recorded her lone win in 11 starts in an off-the-turf race in sloppy conditions last December. She is 0 for 6 on turf.

The two most logical contenders are Little Michelle, who makes her first start going beyond 7 1/2 furlongs, and Cambiata, who steps up in class following back-to-back good performances going a mile.