By Paul Bergeron
Handicappers continue to chase down new-shooter prospects with hopes of entering the Kentucky Derby and its wide-open field.
There’s been no hope of chasing down Prevalence, an undefeated Godolphin Racing horse who on Friday was confirmed to enter the Grade 2 Wood Memorial. This was first reported by the Daily Racing Form.
The 9-furlong race is Saturday at Aqueduct and is worth 100 Derby points. Tyler Gaffalione is named to be on board Prevalence, who is 2 for 2, both wins at Gulfstream Park. The horse is trained by Brendan Walsh.
With the addition of Prevalence and Thursday’s confirmation of Candy Man Rocket by trainer Bill Mott, the New York Racing Association racing office now lists nine probable entries for the $750,000 Wood, going 1 1/8-miles.
Prevalence has not been tested in either of his wins. On Jan. 23, he earned an 89 Beyer Speed Figure in his debut, a 7-furlong Maiden Special Weight race featuring a field of 12.
Here is a video of that race:
Prevalence took the lead at the half-mile marker and widened it using a hand ride. He’d jog home to beat the odds-on favorite and second-place finisher Stage Raider by 8.5 lengths.
Stage Raider is a half-brother to 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify. Prevalence paid $17.60.
On March 11, in an Allowance Optional Claiming race with a field of six, he broke outward but came away with the leaders and was content to sit outside before taking the lead in the stretch of the 7-furlong race.
Prevalence comes from Medaglia d’Oro and Enrichment by Ghostzapper.
Godolphin has won over 5,000 races worldwide since its inception in 1992, but never the Kentucky Derby. Godolphin’s other 2021 Kentucky Derby hopeful, 2-year-old champion Essential Quality, will race in Saturday’s Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
The last Wood Memorial winner to capture the Kentucky Derby was Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000.
