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‘They Put All Their Energy Into Running’: Prevalence Evokes Memories Of His Sire, Medaglia D’Oro

Godolphin's highly regarded Prevalence will make his stakes debut in Saturday's Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack.

The nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds is the final local Kentucky Derby qualifier, awarding 100-40-20-10 points to the top-four finishers.

Godolphin seeks its first Kentucky Derby win but could have as many as three entries on the first Saturday in May with unbeaten Champion 2-Year-Old Essential Quality, who runs in Saturday's Grade 2 Blue Grass at Keeneland, and Group 2 UAE Derby winner Rebel's Romance.

If Prevalence is to join Godolphin's Derby contingent, he'll need to finish first or second in the Wood Memorial to garner the required qualifying points.

Unbeaten in two starts, the son of multiple champion-producing stallion Medaglia d'Oro has yet to start at graded stakes level. The talented bay colt shined going seven furlongs on debut on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, which he won by 8 ½ lengths in paid workout-like fashion.

The debut score had trainer Brendan Walsh and Godolphin USA president Jimmy Bell considering going right into graded stakes company in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park. However, a fever altered the colt's training schedule and the connections called an audible with Prevalence returning victorious in a one-turn optional-claiming mile on March 11 at Gulfstream.

“I really think that's the goodness of having an allowance race,” Bell said. “A lot of time you get that wow factor of a first performance and then you don't get that in their second race. In all fairness, it is their lifetime second start, so they are still figuring things out. That's more natural than an issue. Perhaps it's maybe a blessing in going back in an allowance race. He got good experiences in both races. To have those two races under his belt. They were both progressive steps.”

Prevalence breezed a stiff half-mile in 47.60 seconds at Palm Meadows Training Center on Sunday, the fastest of 30 works at the distance.

“His last work showed that his energy level was where it needed to be,” Bell said. “He went a half in 47 and 3 and galloped out as easy as possible, so his energy level right there said it all. He's an easy horse to read. You know where he's at and what he's feeling. Certainly, the extra time and having the Wood Memorial where it is on the calendar was important.”

Bell said the Wood Memorial will dictate the direction of the horse's sophomore campaign.

“When the race is finished, he'll answer all our questions and point us in one direction or another,” Bell said. “We want to let him show us what he is or isn't or what he can or can't do. Even if you can't run a mile and a quarter, there's good races and great careers that come underneath that.”

Prevalence represents Godolphin's legacy and that of his multiple champion-producing sire Medaglia d'Oro as well. The prolific stallion has stood at Darley Stud, Godolphin's breeding division, since 2009 and has been amongst the leading sires in North America.

Bell identified a similar mental strength between Prevalence and his sire.

“They both have that ability to respond to whatever and however,” Bell said. “They put all their energy into their running. I'm a big believer in mental toughness as well as physical ability. It's important to have it all from a physical standpoint but having it mentally all together is also important. During his racing career, Medaglia d'Oro showed up on a lot of big days and was very consistent. This one is consistent so far as well.”

Medaglia d'Oro, a three-time Grade 1-winner who captured the 2002 Travers, also is the sire of Wood Memorial aspirant Risk Taking, who likely poses the biggest threat to Prevalence.

“It would be nice to see a Medaglia d'Oro in the winner's circle,” Bell said.

Godolphin enjoyed a record-extending ninth triumph in the Group 1 $12 million Dubai World Cup last Saturday with Mystic Guide, which will be a tough act to follow for the lightly raced Prevalence.

Bell said Mystic Guide will get some rest and relaxation after a 3 ¾-length victory in the Dubai World Cup. The son of Ghostzapper trained by Michael Stidham was Godolphin's first North American-based and trained Dubai World Cup winner.

Bell said that Mystic Guide could return to action this summer at Saratoga Race Course.

“It's been a phenomenal 2021 for him and us both,” Bell said. “Watching him show us the talent he has and that he can get the mile and a quarter distance was gratifying to see. He'll get a pretty good break coming back home after two just unbelievable races this year We're talking more Saratoga-ish time of the year.”

Never worse than third in eight career starts, Mystic Guide won last year's Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga before a close second to Happy Saver in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. After a 4 ½-month layoff, he returned to action with a six-length win in the Grade 3 Razorback over a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park en route to Dubai.

“He showed that he can handle any kind of track it seems,” Bell said. “It's never an easy assignment to ship halfway around the world and bring your 'A' game. He handled it all very well. He showed that he's made a big development not only physically but mentally as well. It takes a certain type of horse mentally and physically to handle that travel on a big night. He certainly shined on the right evening.”

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Godolphin Wields Rising Star Duo in Saturday’s Derby Preps

Godolphin has been riding a high since annexing last weekend's GI Dubai World Cup with homebred Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) and the operation looks to assert its dominance in the sophomore division Saturday with a pair of TDN Rising Stars, defending juvenile champion Essential Quality (Tapit), slated to run in Keeneland's GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and Aqueduct's GII Wood Memorial contender Prevalence (Medaglia d'Oro).

Essential Quality earned his Rising Star status courtesy of a four-length victory sprinting six panels at Churchill Downs last September before handling his step up to graded company with aplomb, taking the 8 1/2-furlong GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity in October and tied up a championship with a win in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland Nov. 6.

“I think one of his better races might have been his maiden race,” said Godolphin USA President Jimmy Bell. “We needed a race just to get him started. [In his debut], he showed athleticism and speed going short and won by daylight. He then jumped right into the deep end and won the Futurity and Breeders' Cup. Not many can do that and that's really what sets him apart. He's quite versatile and athletic and with a very good mind. When you put all those things together, it can occasionally get you these kinds of results.”

Drawing post 4, the Feb. 27 GIII Southwest S. winner will be partnered by Luis Saez, aboard for his last three starts in addition to last weekend's World Cup winner Mystic Guide. Bell indicated that trainer Brad Cox outlined a 3-year-old pre-Derby campaign soon after the Breeders' Cup, and the Derby pre-amble would consist of only a pair of preps, including the Blue Grass, which was targeted largely because of its timing and the colt's obvious affinity for Keeneland.

Standing in stark contrast to Essential Quality, who has already cemented his spot in the May 1 GI Kentucky Derby, stablemate Prevalence will have to earn his stripes in top company to earn a ticket to Louisville. Earning Rising Star billing following a flashy 8 1/2-length win going seven panels at Gulfstream Jan. 23, the homebred followed-up with another victory while adding a furlong against optional claiming company at the Hallandale oval Mar. 11.

“A lot of time you get that 'wow' first performance and they go back over for the second race and it's not always the same result,” said Bell. “They are a little more tuned in to what it's all about. In fairness, it was his lifetime second start. That was one of the blessings we had coming back in an allowance race. He had good experiences in both races and he learned something in both races. That's what gives us a little more confidence about stepping into graded stakes and stepping up in distance. Both his races were learning experiences and progressive steps that served us well.”

Since his latest win, the Brendan Walsh trainee returned to work a bullet four furlongs, the fastest of 30 moves at the distance, at Palm Meadows Mar. 28.

“He came out of his last work with a bullet. He went in :47.60 and galloped out as easy as you can–it said it all right there,” explained Bell. “From Brendan's perspective, he's an easy horse to read, you know where he's at and what he's feeling. The timing of the Wood Memorial was good timing for him to make that next progressive step.”

Asked whether it might be too tall of an order for such an inexperienced horse, Bell added, “The hope is for the horse to tell us what we are going to do next and we felt this is the opportunity to do that. He's going to need to be able to travel and he's going to be facing stiffer competition. Certainly, he's been brilliant at the short distance races, but what does he look like going a mile and an eighth? When the race is over, he will have answered all of those questions which will point us in one direction or another. And that's really what we want to do. We want to let him show us what he is or isn't capable of at this stage. It's a progression.”

And what would it mean for Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the entire Godolphin team to finally get the chance to hoist the blanket of roses on Derby day?

“It's hard to imagine because it's such an illusive place to get to,” said Bell. “It is one of the most prestigious races, or the most prestigious race, in the world in many people's minds. And it is what everyone who has a talented 3-year-old colt at this time of the year points toward. [Sheikh Mohammed] is so philosophical about these types of races and opportunities that, in time, patience will prevail and if it's meant to be, it will happen. The great news is that there has never been an ounce of pressure. It is just that everyone would like to see it happen. From His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, he is above all an astute horseman and understands probably better than we do. He is just excited to have opportunities and even more excited that a couple of these are hombreds as well. He makes it very easy because he is very understanding and has a great outlook on things.”

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‘The Race Will Do The Deciding’: Undefeated, Untested Prevalence Headed To Wood Memorial

Godolphin's promising sophomore colt Prevalence will make his first start in a Kentucky Derby prep race next weekend, reports the Daily Racing Form. Untested in two career starts, which he won by a combined 11 1/2 lengths, the son of Medaglia d'Oro will show up in the entries for the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct.

The Wood offers the winner 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Tyler Gaffalione will head north to ride Prevalence, who is conditioned by Brendan Walsh.

“The way we're approaching it is the race will do the deciding not us hoping and thinking and hypothesizing,” Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin U.S., told DRF. “Hopefully, the result will point you in one direction or another.”

Breeders’ Cup Presents Connections: Burke Brings A Lifetime Of Experience To His Role With Godolphin

Veteran horseman Johnny Burke claims he's a “small cog” in the grand scheme of the Godolphin operation, but every good engineer knows that every cog in the machine, no matter how small, has to work together in perfect synchronicity to produce the desired outcome.

“I'm part of a big, global team, just trying to get the boss in the winner's circle,” Burke said. “It's me that's having the good fortune to work with these guys, the whole team. Any time we get to be associated with a horse that's winning, we enjoy knowing that we played a part in it.”

One of the top older horses in training to have come through the Godolphin rehab and pre-training barn Burke runs at Keeneland is Mystic Guide, a 4-year-old son of Ghostzapper being aimed at the Dubai World Cup. Mystic Guide won the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes and placed second in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup last year, and began his 2021 campaign with a striking win in the G3 Razorback Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 27.

If he can find success in the UAE, Mystic Guide will be just the second winner Godolphin has sent from North America to the $12 million race, following the success of Street Cry in 2002.

That isn't the only reason the colt's success will have extra meaning for Burke, however. The Irish-born trainer counts himself lucky to have had Mystic Guide's dam in his barn when he first started working for Godolphin, and it would be pretty special to watch her have similar success in the broodmare shed to what she was able to achieve on the racetrack.

“Music Note was one of the charter members here at the Rice Road barn,” said Burke. “She was among the first group of horses I was rehabbing, and she turned out to be one of the better horses in America by the time she retired.”

Music Note, a daughter of A.P. Indy, broke her maiden at Aqueduct in November of her 2-year-old year. She would go on to three Grade 1 races as a 3-year-old, and a further two Grade 1 stakes as a 4-year-old. Music Note also ran third in both the 2008 and 2009 editions of the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic before retiring to Gainsborough Farm with earnings over $1.6 million.

“I'm so glad for her to show up with this caliber of horse,” Burke said. “We've kind of been waiting on her to produce this kind of horse, so it's great to see her do that. You always want them to take that same performance between the rails and bring it to the paddocks.”

Music Note had found mild success in the breeding shed with her second foal, Ventura Highway (Street Cry), a gelding with no black type but a solid record (12-17-12) over 66 starts to earn $217,925 on the track.

The rest of the millionaire mare's offspring had yet to show the same kind of potential she'd had on the track, but that trend changed when Mystic Guide walked into Burke's barn at Keeneland in 2019.

“Usually the 2-year-olds get dispersed out of Ocala to their assigned trainers after the (Kentucky) Derby,” Burke explained. “Instead, he came from Niall Brennan up to me for a little bit, because he wasn't quite as forward. He was a nice, big, good-looking horse, though, and we just worked him a couple of times over the summer but mostly gave him time to grow.”

Mystic Guide went to trainer Michael Stidham's barn at the Fair Grounds before his first start in February of 2020, and the colt's recent effort in the Razorback has shown once again that Burke still knows a good horse when he sees one.

“For him to run a 108 Beyer off the layoff, that kind of thing always makes you feel good,” Burke said. “We'll be cheering him home in Dubai, for sure.”

Ghostzapper colt Mystic Guide wins the Razorback Handicap by six lengths under Luis Saez

Burke knows good horses, thanks to a lifetime of experience from the ground up.

The son of a steeplechase trainer who served his apprenticeship with the legendary Vincent O'Brien during his pre-Ballydoyle days, Burke has wanted to work with horses for as long as he can remember.

His father insisted Burke finish school, and as soon as he hit graduation Burke began riding out in the mornings. Burke attended the Irish National Stud Course in 1979, and spent a couple years in Australia before traveling to Lexington.

He spent seven years galloping horses and traveling for future Hall of Fame trainer Carl Nafzger, and eventually took out his own trainer's license.

“I didn't have anything else I knew how to do,” Burke said, laughing. “I ended up with one horse (in the beginning), and said, 'I'll keep going as long as I can.' I made a living at it, galloping a lot of my own horses, and rented half a barn at Paris Pike for a while.

“It's a tough business but a satisfying business, running a public stable. I have no qualms about the fact that I tried it; I wasn't going out with sky high ambitions. You know, they gave me a lemon and I tried to make lemonade.”

He trained a couple maiden winners for Godolphin over the course of his career, and in 2006, Burke got a call from Jimmy Bell about the organization's desire to open a year-round operation in a barn on Rice Road at Keeneland.

“It was a great phone call to get,” Burke said. “My days of getting on horses galloping were about over, and I said to myself, 'I'll probably never get a call like this again.'

“I do think mid-range horses teach you more about training than the real good horses, which basically train themselves. Good horses don't grow on trees, though.”

Neither do good employees.

“This business, you gotta have a bit of luck, but you gotta put a bit into it, too,” Burke summarized. “Hard work and reputation will carry you a lot further than anything else in life.”

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