Prevalence pressed early pacesetter and favorite Nashville from second then surged to the lead in early stretch and won the $300,000 Commonwealth Stakes (G3) Saturday at Keeneland.
The 4-year-old son of Medaglia d'Or, a Godolphin homebred, cruised clear by 2 1/4 lengths and finished seven furlongs under Tyler Gaffalione in 1:22.47. He earned his career stakes triumph while providing trainer Brendan Walsh his third win on the day's card.
Long Range Todd was up for second, a head in front of third-place finisher O Besos.
With Prevalance in close attendance, Nashville set swift opening fractions of :22.12 and :44.61 through a half mile had nothing for the stretch run and finished last in the 10-horse field.
“I wasn't sure we'd get that close to (Nashville),” Walsh said. “(The plan was) let (Prevalence) work his way into the race. They were going quick, but he looked comfortable the whole time. Tyler said he was just cruising along for him.”
Prevalence came into the Commonwealth after a 4 ¾-length triumph in an optional allowance race March 5 at Gulfstream Park. After winning his first two starts last year, he was briefly on the classics trail but finished unplaced in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct in his first try in stakes company.
With Saturday's win Prevalence, who returned $7, improves to four wins from seven lifetime starts. He is out of the Ghostzapper mare Enrichment.
“He's just a very smart horse,” Gaffalione said. “He does everything so easily. The first thing Brendan (Walsh) said (after the race) was, 'Man, they went quick, but it looked like he was doing it well within himself,' and he really was. He has a high cruising speed, and he's a very intelligent horse. I had plenty left.”
Walsh also won the day's second race with Emirates Road, a full brother to Prevalence, and the third race with Longpants Required.
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