Prevalence earns 86 Beyer; Blue Grass or Wood likely next step

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Prevalence earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure when easily passing a second preliminary test Thursday at Gulfstream Park en route to joining the Kentucky Derby trail.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, Prevalence never had a straw in his path after breaking from the outside post in a field of six 3-year-olds in the one-mile, first-level allowance. He prevailed by three lengths in 1:35.82 over a fast track, returning $2.20 as a prohibitive favorite.

About 50 yards from the wire, with victory safely in hand, Gaffalione gave the colt one sharp smack with a left-handed whip before riding him out an extra sixteenth of a mile or so beyond the wire.

“He’s a very nice horse,” Gaffalione said. “He definitely took the next step forward today. I was very pleased with him. I made sure he galloped out very strong today. He responded to everything I asked of him. He’s very professional for being this young.”

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Trainer Brendan Walsh said one of the final Derby qualifiers will be next for Prevalence, a Godolphin homebred colt by Medaglia d’Oro.

“Possibly the Arkansas Derby, or the Wood maybe,” Walsh said.

Prevalence had become something of a sensation in winning his career debut, a seven-furlong maiden race here Jan. 23. He had been pointing to his second start in late February but missed about a week of training after spiking a slight fever, forcing Walsh to wait for this race.

“We appreciate Gulfstream getting this race to go,” Walsh said. “It was very important for us to get this race for him. Him missing the last race wasn’t that big of a deal, except for the timing. It came at a vital time when he missed a work he would’ve needed. I’m very happy with how things went today.”

Prevalence was included this week in Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch Top 20 and closed at 29-1 last weekend in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.

Godolphin already has the undefeated Essential Quality, the reigning divisional champion, pointing to the April 3 Blue Grass at Keeneland. Godophin also has Proxy, who runs next Saturday in the Louisiana Derby, in the DRF Derby Watch Top 20.

The Wood Memorial will be run April 3 at Aqueduct, with the Arkansas Derby following a week later. Like the Blue Grass, both are worth 100-40-20-10 qualifying points toward the May 1 Kentucky Derby. A win or a runner-up finish in his next race likely would earn Prevalence a starting berth.