For Prado, eight shots at elusive target

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas - Edgar Prado is one of 23 jockeys who have amassed more than $2 million in earnings in the Breeders' Cup. He is the only one of the 23 who has yet to win a Breeders' Cup race.

Prado brings an 0-for-33 record into Saturday's 21st Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships at Lone Star Park. Prado, one of three jockeys riding in all eight races, has some very live chances to break the skid.

In a year that has seen him capture his 5,000th career victory, vie for the top spot on the national earnings list, and win a second Belmont Stakes, Prado would love nothing more than to end his Breeders' Cup futility.

"Oh yeah, definitely, you want to join the group of jockeys that have won the Breeders' Cup," said Prado, 37. "I know winning the Triple Crown is super, but winning the Breeders' Cup at the end of the year would be wonderful for your career and be an exclamation point at the end of the year. I've really been looking forward to it since I've been riding it. Hopefully, this year will be the year."

Sitting on live horses helps. Alex Solis, who was 1 for 40 in Breeders' Cup history before last year, won two races last year, including the Classic aboard Pleasantly Perfect.

Since he began riding the Breeders' Cup in 1992, Prado has ridden only six horses that have been odds of 6-1 or less. He has been on only two favorites - You, who finished fourth in the 2001 Juvenile Fillies, and Peace Rules, who finished last in the 2003 Mile.

This year, Prado has big chances in the Classic (Birdstone), Turf (Magistretti), Sprint (Midas Eyes), Juvenile Fillies (Sense of Style), and Juvenile (Sun King). Wonder Again is a live longshot in the Filly and Mare Turf, as is Silver Tree in the Mile. Perhaps the only true outsider Prado rides is Nebraska Tornado, who makes her dirt debut in the Distaff.

Prado has nearly pulled off some of the biggest upsets in Breeders' Cup history. On his only mount in 1998, Prado came within a head of guiding Aly's Alley to a victory in the Juvenile at 76-1. In the 2002 Sprint, Thunderello looked as though he would steal the Sprint at 48-1 before being run down late by favored Orientate. Last year, L'Ancresse, the longest shot on the board in the Filly and Mare Turf, had the lead in deep stretch before losing by a neck to favored Islington.

In June, Prado guided Birdstone past Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones in deep stretch to win the Belmont at 34-1. Twelve weeks later, Prado and Birdstone teamed up to win the Travers. Prado said Birdstone seemed like a different horse in the Travers. "He was more aggressive," Prado said.

Prado noted that Birdstone has won three Grade 1 races when he was training over the Oklahoma track in Saratoga, where Birdstone has been training since mid-May.

Prado could very well get his first Breeders' Cup win aboard Sense of Style in the Juvenile Fillies. Sense of Style won her first four races and had a troubled trip when fifth in the Alcibiades.

"That race, I consider it a disaster," Prado said. "We didn't have a chance to let her run. We were teaching her something, cover up and make her rate and all that. Everything worked out until the last part of the race. You didn't see her best that day."

Prado is 2 for 2 aboard Midas Eyes, guiding him to victories in an allowance race and the Grade 1 Forego.

"I was more impressed with his first race coming back than I was the second," Prado said. "It's rare when you can go in 21-and-change and the horse has another gear. How many horses can do that?"

Prado won the Grade 1 Diana aboard Wonder Again in July. In the Flower Bowl, Wonder Again finished sixth but was beaten less than two lengths. She is listed at 12-1 on the morning line, but may appreciate some give in the turf course.

"I think she handles both [soft and firm] very well," Prado said. "She likes soft ground and other ones don't like it, so it makes her look better."

Nothing to Lose is the 7-2 morning-line favorite in the Mile. Silver Tree is listed at 12-1. Silver Tree and Nothing to Lose traded close decisions in a pair of graded stakes at Saratoga. Nothing to Lose did beat Silver Tree by 5 1/4 lengths in the Shadwell Turf Mile on Oct. 9.

"If Nothing to Lose is going to be one of the favorites, why do you leave Silver Tree out?" Prado said.

Prado will be riding both Nebraska Tornado (Distaff) and Sun King (Juvenile) for the first time. Nebraska Tornado has the pedigree to handle dirt while Sun King could take a step forward after finishing third in the Champagne.

Prado said if he were allowed to win only one race Saturday, he would pick the Classic.

"I hope Birdstone," Prado said. "He tries hard every time; we get along together. Dreams come true, and hopefully it's the day of the little man. Hopefully, we have a nice end to the story."

Edgar Prado at the Breeders' Cup

33 mounts, 0 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds
Mount earnings of $2,129560