Prado Returns to Maryland Circuit Full-Time

Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado, a winner of 24 riding titles at Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park, is returning to Maryland beginning with the May 12 opening of the Pimlico meet.

Prado, who has won nearly 6,900 races and led the nation in wins three consecutive years (1997-99) riding primarily in Maryland, dominated the circuit for a decade before relocating to New York in 1998. Prado has spent the past 18 months riding full-time in South Florida. 

Since later April, Prado has won the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) with Divisidero, the $100,000 Miami Mile Stakes (gr. IIIT) with Smokem Kitten, and $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap with Mobile Bay. Last year he won the $1.5 million TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I) with Runhappy.

Prado earned an Eclipse Award as the country's top jockey in 2006, the same year he piloted Barbaro to victory in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

"Edgar is very excited about returning to Maryland," said Prado's agent, Bob Klesaris. "We stayed in South Florida last summer but things just didn't work out. I've been up for a few days and the reception I've received about Edgar returning to Maryland has been very good. He's looking to ride the Maryland circuit full-time beginning with Pimlico."

Prado was the leading apprentice in his native Peru before coming to the United States in 1986 as a contract rider for trainer Manny Azpurua.