Options Open for Prevalence's Next Start

Two decisive victories to launch his career have the connections of Prevalence considering a start in one of the final preps for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1).

Trained by Brendan Walsh, the Godolphin homebred posted a flashy and effortless 8 1/2-length debut triumph Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park. The Medaglia d'Oro  colt followed that effort with a three-length win in a mile allowance optional claiming race March 11 at the South Florida oval.

Jimmy Bell, president of Godolphin's North American division, said that how Prevalence runs in his next start will be a large deciding factor as to how the horse will be campaigned on the Triple Crown trail.

"His maiden win told us something, his allowance win told us even more, and his next race will decide where we go from there. Each race is its own entity," Bell said. "We'll all be curious to see what his best distance is. He showed a nice step up from seven-eighths to a mile."

The April 3 Wood Memorial Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) at Aqueduct Racetrack, April 3 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, and April 10 Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park are among the possible targets for Prevalence's graded stakes debut. All three are part of the Road to the Kentucy Derby series and award points on a 100-40-20-10 scale.

"It becomes a question of where his energy level is and it comes down to a timing thing," Bell said. "His past races gave him some good experiences and when asked, he responded professionally."