Prevalence takes charge in G3 Commonwealth Stakes

Prevalence produced a classy display to gain a first Graded Stakes success in the G3 Commonwealth Stakes, with half-brother Emirates Road losing his maiden tag on the same Keeneland card on Saturday, 9 April.

Four-year-old Prevalence, whose dam Enrichment finished a head second in a maiden at the same meeting in 2011, had looked a potential Triple Crown contender before failing to stay in last season’s G2 Wood Memorial Stakes.

The Medaglia d’Oro colt was stepping back in class for Brendan Walsh on the back of an easy allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream Park in early March.

After breaking on terms from a wide draw, Prevalence disputed second early on before moving up to stalk last season’s G1 Malibu Stakes fourth Nashville rounding the far turn.

Prevalence cruised up to hit the front under Tyler Gaffalione just inside the final quarter-mile and drew clear in the straight, scoring by an easy two and a quarter lengths in the seven-furlong dirt contest.

Brendan Walsh said: “I wasn’t sure we’d get that close to Nashville. The plan was to let Prevalence work his way into the race. They were going quick, but he looked comfortable the whole time. Tyler said he was just cruising along for him.”

Tyler Gaffalione said: “Prevalence is just a very smart horse, who does everything so easily. The first thing Brendan said after the race was, ‘Man, they went quick, but it looked like he was doing it well within himself,’ and he really was. He has a high cruising speed and he’s a very intelligent horse. I had plenty left.”

Emirates Road, a three-year-old colt by Quality Road, also represented the same trainer jockey combination in a seven-furlong dirt maiden. Making his second start, Emirates Road overcame a sluggish start as he stayed on well to get up in the closing stages for a length verdict.

Brendan Walsh added: “Godolphin is a huge supporter of mine, so to have two winners for them out of the same mare is a special day.”