Prevalence Turns in Final Work for Wood Memorial

Godolphin's Prevalence  registered his final work ahead of shipping to New York for the April 3 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) run at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Medaglia d'Oro   colt March 28 posted a half-mile breeze in :47 3/5 at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida.

Trainer Brendan Walsh said he's been pleased with Prevalence's training and will see him ship to New York Wednesday, when the draw for Road to the Kentucky Derby points race, will occur. The Wood Memorial awards points on a 100-40-20-10 scale.

"He worked here this morning at Palm Meadows and it went very well and he's flying up there on Wednesday," Walsh said. "It looks like he's going into the race in good shape. It's another step now, so we'll find out if he can go the two turns as well. This will answer our questions and be a good test for him."

Work of the Day from Palm Meadows, The undefeated Prevalence (Inside) and Samaronti worked 4 Furlongs on March 28th, 2021 for trainer Brendan Walsh. Prevalence is expected to make his next start in the G. II Wood Memorial on April 3rd. Watch and Wager on @1stbet @brenpwalsh pic.twitter.com/KZ653CqyDT

— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) March 28, 2021

Prevalence is unbeaten in two starts at Gulfstream Park. He romped by 8 1/2 lengths on debut Jan. 23 going seven furlongs, then missed the Feb. 27 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) after developing a cough. He returned in a March 11 allowance and won by three lengths around a one-turn mile.

Walsh said he's optimistic Prevalence can handle the challenge of shipping in for a race for the first time. 

"He's a very nice, quiet, easy-going horse and I don't think the travel will affect him at all," Walsh said. "We'll see how he handles the track. He hits me as a horse who can handle any kind of surface."

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione, aboard for Prevalence's first two starts, will have the return call in the Wood Memorial.

"It's always good when you can have continuity," Walsh said. "It all helps. Tyler's a great rider, so we look forward to having him on board."

Joseph Trainees Breeze for Undercard

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. will have a strong presence on Saturday's Wood Memorial card led by Mischevious Alex  in the Carter Handicap (G1) for older sprinters and Drain the Clock  in the Bay Shore Stakes (G3) for sophomore sprinters. 

Joseph, who has picked up 12 stalls at Belmont Park, is hoping to get off to a strong start in his first full-time foray into New York racing.

"We're coming in with good horses in 'Alex' and Drain the Clock and it would be nice to get off to a good start," he said. "I think we have a very strong set of horses."

Cash is King and LC Racing's Mischevious Alex worked a half-mile in company in a sharp :47.14 at Gulfstream Park.

The 4-year-old Into Mischief   colt captured the Gotham Stakes (G3) at the Big A in 2020. He enters Saturday's test from scores in the Feb. 13 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes (G3) and a Jan. 10 allowance optional claimer.

"He worked really good. He sat off a workmate and finished off the last quarter in :22 and 4," Joseph said. "He worked as good as we could ask coming into the race. He's in good form. I think he has a very good chance of notching his first grade 1."

Irad Ortiz Jr. will have the call on both horses. The 28-year-old Ortiz, Jr. returns to ride at Aqueduct Thursday, opening day of the spring meet, after a tremendous winter at Gulfstream with a record-setting 138 wins, with one card remaining in the Championship Meet.

Slam Dunk Racing, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Michael Nentwig's Drain the Clock worked in company with multiple graded stakes-winning filly Tonalist's Shape  and was clocked in :47.72 for a half-mile breeze at Gulfstream. Tonalist's Shape was timed in :48.18.

"He sat off of the filly and finished a bit stronger than her. He's doing good," Joseph said.

A chestnut son of Maclean's Music  , Drain the Clock won four of his first five starts led by a 6 1/4-length score in the Jan. 30 Claiborne Farm Swale Stakes (G3) traveling seven furlongs at Gulfstream. His lone miss from those races came in the Nov. 30 Jean Lafitte Stakes at Delta Downs when an iron broke during the race and he lost the rider.

Last out, Drain the Clock set the pace en route to a runner-up effort in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth his first start around two turns.

The first major target of the year for Slam Dunk Racing, Doug Branham and Legacy Ranch's Tonalist's Shape is the July 3 Princess Rooney Invitational (G2) at Gulfstream, but Joseph said he's like to bring her back to Saratoga Race Course, where she finished fourth in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) last summer.

Sunday's breeze was the fourth for Tonalist's Shape as she works towards a return following a last-out fifth in the Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2) last October at Keeneland.

"That was probably her stiffest work today and it was her first work back in company," Joseph said. "The Princess Rooney is a good spot for her but there's a good possibility she'll go to Saratoga.

"We'll try to keep her to one turn this year and see what happens. If she progresses we might give two turns a try, but looking back it seems she's best at one turn."