Prevalence, a Godolphin homebred, hasn't been the most reliable runner, but when he's on his game, the 6-year-old Medaglia d'Oro gelding can run among the best in the nation in the sprints. On May 18 at Pimlico Race Course, he'll be going into the $100,000 Maryland Sprint Stakes (G3).
Prevalence led by a considerable distance going into the turn and only increased it to record a 6 1/2-length victory in a six-furlong allowance optional claimer on April 6 at Keeneland. His best Equibase Speed Figure (106) since that previous score, a convincing win in the 2022 Commonwealth Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, came from the effort, which put a stop to an eight-race losing streak that began in April 2022.
Although he returned to form in his most recent performance, Prevalence did perform well in this stakes event the previous year, coming in second to Straight No Chaser. Prevalence has worked three times at Churchill Downs for trainer Brendan Walsh since the allowance race at Keeneland. Irad Ortiz Jr., the jockey who rode in that most recent victory, will be back in action on Saturday.
A bonus series for the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen is the Maryland Sprint Stakes. In light of this, the top three finishers will receive a tiered bonus that can be applied to the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at the World Championships at Del Mar in lieu of pre-entry and entry costs.
West Point Thoroughbreds' Jaxon Traveler, a son of Munnings who boasts a victory in the 2022 Maryland Sprint among his three victories and two seconds from six appearances on the Pimlico main track, is one of the anticipated six rivals waiting for Prevalence.
"We love to run on Preakness weekend. He got his first big stakes win there, and we love running in Maryland," stated West Point executive vice president Tom Bellhouse. "He's such a cool horse. He doesn't win every time, but he always tries real hard."