PRADO RIDES FOUR WINNERS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT BELMONT PARK

Sunday, May 16, 2010

 

Contact: Ashley Herriman

(718) 659-2218

 

PRADO RIDES FOUR WINNERS SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT BELMONT PARK

 

ELMONT, N.Y. – It was a banner day at Belmont Park for Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado, who brought home four winners from five mounts Sunday afternoon. 

 

Prado guided Sounds Familiar ($5.30) to win the third race, Endless Circle ($4.70) in the fourth, Pocket Cowboys ($11.80) in the eighth and Giant Moon ($10) in the ninth.  He finished fifth aboard Kittylicious in Race 6, his only non-winner of the day. 

 

“It’s a great feeling to win a race here at Belmont Park – to win anywhere,” Prado said.  “There are a lot of ups and downs in this business and you have to enjoy it when it’s good.  I’m very happy today, and even happier for my clients who gave me the support and confidence to ride their horses.”

 

Giant Moon, Prado’s final winner of the day in an allowance optional claimer featuring some talented older New York-breds, was making his second start of the year for owner Albert Fried Jr.  The 5-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway has been plagued by foot problems throughout his career, and most recently finished last in a competitive renewal of the Grade 3 Westchester on Opening Day at Belmont Park, his first start after nearly a year off.

 

Trained by Richard Schosberg, Giant Moon won the Damon Runyon against fellow statebreds at two, before venturing into open company to win the Count Fleet in his first start as a 3-year-old.  He finished ninth in the Grade 3 Gotham, fourth in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial, and eighth in the Grade 1 Preakness to complete his sophomore campaign before being sidelined with foot problems. 

 

Last year, Giant Moon had two wins and one second from four starts, with Prado aboard for the horse’s victory in the Grade 3 Excelsior Handicap last April.    

 

“I’ve been very fortunate to ride for Schosberg, he’s been very supportive, and I was happy to win this race for him,” Prado added. 

 

Nationally in 2010, Prado has ridden 36 winners, with 47 seconds and 34 thirds from 285 starts, for earnings of $1,680,317.  Prado and Eibar Coa are currently tied for seventh in the NYRA standings with seven wins each at the Belmont Park Spring/Summer meet. 

 

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