Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
GULFSTREAM
Prevalence headed to Blue Grass or Wood next
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 onemile, 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.”
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 sevenfurlong maiden race here Jan. 23 with an 87 Beyer Figure. 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 100-4020-10 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.
DQ appeal decision expected
An arbitrator’s decision is due in the coming days following a Gulfstream stewards’ hearing held Thursday via Zoom into the controversial disqualification of Spanish Loveaffair in the Feb. 27 Here comes the bride Stakes.
Spanish Loveaffair was disqualified from first to fourth for allegedly interfering with I Get It leaving the backstretch in the Grade 3 turf race. Casse said retired Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey was among those testifying that he believed it was the wrong call.
Spanish Loveaffair, a 3-yearold Karakontie filly, is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbreds, Michael Hernon, and Gary Barber. The decision of the arbitrator, former steward and racing official Jeff Noe, will be final, given that Casse said he and the owners will not pursue further legal action.
Irad Ortiz serving suspension
Irad Ortiz Jr., the superstar jockey who leads both the national and local standings in wins in 2021, began serving a five-day suspension Saturday and will be inactive until he returns next Saturday at Fair Grounds for the big Louisiana Derby card.
Ortiz was suspended by the Gulfstream stewards for his ride aboard Passion Plus in the second race March 5. Passion Plus, a 6-year-old mare trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., bumped a rival at the top of the stretch when angling out and went on to win the one-mile turf race for $16,000 conditioned claimers. She was not disqualified.
Ortiz, 28, has been voted the Eclipse Award for top jockey each of the last three years. His 128 wins are tops at the championship meet, which began Dec. 2, and his 103 wins in 2021 are the most in North America.
Turf races co-featured
A pair of $52,000, first-level allowances going two turns on the turf are the highlights of a 10-race Sunday card that starts at 1:10 p.m. Eastern. Both are part of the 20-cent Rainbow 6, which spans races 5-10 and was expected to offer a pool guarantee of about $500,000, assuming the jackpot was not emptied by a solo winning ticket Friday or Saturday.
Race 7 is a 1 1/8-mile race in which Raison d’Air, Safe Conduct, and Bugle of War are the top contenders in a field of seven 3-year-olds. Race 9 is a one-mile race in which Osaka Girl could come a slight favorite among no more than eight fillies and mares.
Ideal weather is in the forecast for Sunday, meaning all six turf races, including both co-features, should be held as scheduled.
After Sunday, Gulfstream goes dark for two days before another five-day week begins Wednesday. A pair of $75,000 turf sprints, the Texas Glitter and Melody of Colors, are set for next Saturday, along with the rescheduled Hurricane Bertie. The next major Gulfstream date is March 27, when the Florida Derby will be one of 10 stakes.