Prado
 

Does anyone have an opinion on Edgar Prado giving up his mount on Imperial Council in the Gotham to ride Monba in the Big Cap? He also gave up the mount on Dunkirk. Too soon to know if either is good enough for the Derby but it seems he is throwing away his chances for a derby mount unless he's thinking This One's For Phil is the one??????????....

**** PRADO!!!

In any other profession, if one were performing as consistently 'erratically' as Prado, his employers would subject him to daily drug tests. In horse racing, all we can do is assuming he's either retarded or a junkie.

Of course, we needn't assume that he's a EUNUCH, as some of his rides clearly prove that he lacks BALLS.

Hope this provides some answers for you.

Wasn't the answer or reply I was expecting but I appreciate your candor. Just asked for some opinions about the mounts he gave up or kept, not open up a forum to malign Prado.

To answer your question, jockeys often do this early in the year if it's a mount in a big race (i.e. Sunshine Millions or Big 'Cap). I think owners and trainers tend to give top jocks leeway when it comes to one race, although that's not always the case (see Bernardini, Rags to Riches). I have no idea why he gave up Dunkirk though, I'm assuming he just figured Alma d'Oro was better, though if that's the case, I'm not sure why he felt the need to push Dunkirk 12-wide on the first turn.

He may have some other good mounts lined up in stakes on the Big Cap card.

It's early and there's a shot he could get back on IC, depending on who gets the ride. If not, it's not like he'll be left out of the Derby. Once the scrambling takes place late he wont be left without a ride.

The Big Cap is $1m and the undercard stakes are probably worth another million. Thats a lot of money to leave sitting there. Committing to Monba means that he's now open to pick up mounts in the remainder of the races on the card as well.

Who is riding Imperial Council now?

I think I read it was Rajiv Maragh.

If Dunkirk wins the Florida Derby and Pioneer of the Nile wins the Santa Anita Derby, Gomez will have to decide between the two.