Fever, missed training set back Prevalence

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Prevalence, the exciting Godolphin homebred who made a flashy career debut on the Jan. 23 Pegasus World Cup undercard, missed a scheduled workout at the Palm Meadows training center after spiking a temperature recently and will not be in action at Gulfstream Park this week as was hoped.

Trainer Brendan Walsh had intended to have Prevalence make his second start in a weekday allowance or the Fountain of Youth on Saturday, but Walsh and Godolphin’s top American representative, Jimmy Bell, now must come up with other plans for the Medaglia d’Oro colt.

“He’s back in training after missing a few days,” Bell said Monday. “It’s bad timing, obviously, but one race doesn’t make a career; this isn’t the end of the world. We’ll just go ahead and let the horse tell us how to proceed from this point.”

Bell said the setback does not necessarily preclude Prevalence from consideration for the May 1 Kentucky Derby, “although him missing training and missing a work is not ideal.”

“Still, I think it’s early enough for him to have an opportunity to show us whether he belongs,” Bell said. “We’re not going to push the envelope. We’ll just take it a step at a time.”

Walsh had preferred to run Prevalence in a 1 1/8-mile allowance that had been listed in the Gulfstream condition book for Thursday. The allowance eventually was withheld by the Gulfstream racing office by one day and now goes as the fourth race Friday. Known Agenda – getting Lasix, blinkers, and Irad Ortiz Jr. all at once – surely will be favored for Todd Pletcher in a field of six 3-yearolds.

Meanwhile, Prevalence will be removed from Daily Racing Form’s Derby Watch Top 20 this week after being listed at 15-1 for the first two weeks. He closed at 14-1 in Pool 3 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (Feb. 12-14), the only pool held thus far following his debut. Bettors clearly were impressed by his unveiling at Gulfstream, when he earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure in winning a seven-furlong maiden race by 8 1/2 lengths.

Godolphin still has the reigning divisional champion in Essential Quality as its top hope for the 147th Derby, as well as Proxy, who is another Derby Watch Top 20 member. Essential Quality, trained by Brad Cox, is scheduled to make his 3-year-old debut Saturday in the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The $300,000 Fountain of Youth, a 50-20-10-5 qualifier for the Derby, is expected to have Holy Bull winner Greatest Honour as a solid favorite.

About 2,000 fans will be permitted entry to the track Saturday, marking just the second time since the global pandemic began last March that Gulfstream has allowed ontrack spectators. The track allowed limited spectators on Pegasus Day. Pre-purchase of tickets is required for those wishing to attend the races on Saturday.

Carmouche coming down

Kendrick Carmouche, the leading jockey at the Aqueduct meet, will be here Saturday to ride Fire At Will in the Fountain of Youth and at least two other mounts.

Trainer Mike Maker initially arranged for Luis Saez to ride Fire At Will, but Carmouche got the mount after Saez committed to Essential Quality in the Southwest at Oaklawn, which will be run Saturday following several weather-related cancellations from its original Feb. 15 date.

Carmouche, as with all jockeys who are not considered regular riders at the Gulfstream championship meet, is being permitted to ride only in graded stakes. It’s a policy Gulfstream management put into place ahead of the Jan. 23 Pegasus World Cup.

“We’re looking to limit the time the out-of-town jockeys spend with the other riders, with jockey-room personnel, pony people, the gate crew, anyone else,” said Mike Lakow, vice president of racing operations at Gulfstream. “These are very difficult times with all the COVID restrictions. We don’t want riders coming in here just for maiden or allowance races.”

Carmouche was to undergo a COVID test Wednesday in New York, then another one Saturday in Florida. Carmouche, who started the week with a meethigh 57 wins at the Aqueduct winter meet, rode at Gulfstream during the 2013-14 season, when he went 14 for 154.

Lanerie having a fine winter

It’s been a very productive winter so far for Corey Lanerie, whose 25 wins through last weekend include a 29-1 upset aboard Queen Nekia in the Grade 3 Royal Delta on Saturday.

Lanerie, a 19-time meet leader at Churchill Downs, rode regularly here for five straight winters but not since the 201617 championship meet. Fair Grounds in his native Louisiana has been his winter base for most of his 30-year career.

“I’m really happy to be doing so well down here,” he said. “The support from all the trainers has helped so much and I’m really grateful.”