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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Edgar Prado (born June 10, 1967, in Lima, Peru) is a Thoroughbred race horse jockey.
Now a resident of Hollywood, Florida, in 2004 Prado became the 19th jockey in Thoroughbred racing history to win 5,000 races.
On May 6, 2006, Prado rode Barbaro to victory in the 132nd Kentucky Derby, a stunning 6.5 lengths ahead of the second finisher, Bluegrass Cat. The margin of victory was the largest since Triple Crown winner Assault won by eight lengths in 1946. Barbaro was pulled up following a horrific ankle injury during the Preakness Stakes two weeks later. Prado was visibly shaken, declining comment, but by all accounts his fast action on the track no doubt contributed to saving the colt's life.
Other racing accomplishments include victories in the 2002 and 2004 Belmont Stakes, in each case aboard a longshot depriving a favorite of the United States Triple Crown. In 2002 Prado won the Belmont aboard Sarava, who is the longest shot to ever win the Belmont Stakes in its history at odds of 70.25-to-1. In 2004 Prado rode Birdstone to victory in the Belmont, denying heavy favorite Smarty Jones the Triple Crown. Prado and Birdstone then went on to win the prestigious Travers Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York in August of 2004.
Edgar Prado had not won a Breeders Cup race until 2005, when he won two, riding Folklore to victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Silver Train in the Breeders' Cup Sprint.
On September 24, 2006, Edgar Prado received the New York Racing Association's 2006 Mike Venezia Award in a paddock ceremony at Belmont Park. The winner of this award is decided by the votes of fellow jockeys, turf writers and an online vote by fans. It honors those "...who exemplify extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship," and is given in memory of Mike Venezia, killed on October 13, 1988 in a spill at Belmont Park.
Prado is involved with Belmont Park's "Anna House," a Child Day Care Center providing care for the children of backstretch workers.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Prado"
From Gulfstream Park media department Edgar Prado Bio
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Edgar Prado
Birthdate: June 12, 1967
Birthplace: Lima, Peru
Residence: Hollywood, Fla.
Family: wife, Lilliana; daughter, Patricia; sons, Edgar Jr. and Luis. |
2005 Gulfstream Record
Mounts 1st 2nd 3rd Winning % Earnings
382 62 57 44 16.2 % $2,039,275
Career Highlights:
- Gulfstream’s leading rider in 2002 captured his second title last year, edging out John Velazquez.
- It was just the beginning of a huge 2005 which saw him top the jockey’s standings at Saratoga and both the Belmont summer and fall meets.
- Capped off the phenomenal year with his first ever Breeders’ Cup wins – Silver Train (Sprint) and Folklore (Juvenile Fillies) – as well as a pair of second place finishes on racing’s World Championship Day.
- Grade one stakes on the year included the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream aboard eventual Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Saint Liam, the Ashland Stakes with Sis City, and two-thirds of New York’s Triple Tiara riding Smuggler.
- Also won ’05 stakes aboard Lost in the Fog, Kitten’s Joy, Offlee Wild, and the Suwannee River Handicap aboard Snowdrops.
- All of that added up to a fourth straight year in which Prado was a finalist for the Eclipse Award as top jockey.
- Captured his 5000th career win at Gulfstream 2004 in the Swale Stakes aboard Wynn Dot Comma.
- Led all riders in 2004 with 11 grade one wins, including six during Saratoga’s six week meet.
- That year also saw him earn a second Belmont Stakes upset, denying Smarty Jones a Triple Crown while riding Birdstone.
- First Belmont Stakes upset came when Sarava paid a record $142.50 ending the Triple Crown dreams of War Emblem in 2002.
- Led nation in wins three straight years (1997 – 1999) while riding primarily in Maryland, and became only rider ever to win 400 races in three consecutive years.
- Moved tack to New York – Florida circuit and captured his first NYRA riding title at Belmont in Fall, 2000.
- Also topped Saratoga standings in 2002.
- Ranked second nationally by earnings in both 2002 and 2003.
- Was regular rider during Lemon Drop Kid’s championship 2000 season.
- Other top horses ridden have included Sky Mesa, Whywhywhy, Milwaukee Brew, Bird Town, Songandaprayer, Take Charge Lady, Flute, Victory Ride, and You.
- Won NTRA All-Star Jockey Championship in both 2000 and 2003.
- Captured Gulfstream’s two most prestigious races in 2002 when taking the Florida Derby with Harlan’s Holiday and the Donn Handicap with Mongoose.
Other:
- Took out license in native Peru in 1983 and became leading apprentice there.
- Came to U.S. in 1986 as contract rider for trainer Manuel Azpurua.
- Has three sisters and eight brothers, two of whom are jockeys (including brother Anibal, who rides at Philadelphia Park)
- Father is a trainer in Peru.
- Captured first American victory on Single Love at Calder on June 1, 1986.
- Moved tack to New England and then Maryland.
- Remained in Maryland for more than ten years before relocating to New York for trainer John Kimmel when Richard Migliore was injured.
- Received Federico Tesio Achievement Award in 1990.
- Won Young Jockeys World Championship at Japan's Nakayama Race Course in March 1994.
Additional Press: Edgar Prado Wins Race Number 5,000
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