Edgar Prado enjoying return to starting point

Edgar Prado. Photo by The Racing Biz.

From a Maryland Jockey Club release

Hall of Fame rider Edgar Prado stayed active on his 49th birthday, riding two horses Sunday at Pimlico Race Course.

Prado moved his tack from Florida to Maryland in May. He’s currently the fifth-leading rider at Pimlico, winning at a 22-percent clip and finishing in the money at a 44-percent clip. Prado dominated the Maryland circuit for a decade – winning 24 riding titles – before moving to New York in 1998.

After riding in Maryland Friday, Prado traveled to New York Saturday to ride Divisidero in the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes (G1) before returning to Maryland to ride Sunday. Prado finished second aboard Stronach Stable’s Demon Buster in Pimlico’s Sunday feature.

“It’s about how I feel and how I can do my job on the track,” said Prado of riding. “I feel like I can compete with the young kids. There’s some tough, good riders here and they’re very competitive. That makes things interesting.”

This year Prado won the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1), the $100,000 Miami Mile (G3) and $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap. He also won the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) in October aboard 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 (G1).

“A lot of people are happy to see me back,” Prado said. “It’s good to be back in Maryland after so many years. It’s going to take time to build business back up. I’ve been traveling to Laurel, Fair Hill and Mr. (Michael) Dickinson’s farm in the mornings.

“It’s all about the horse. If you have a good horse underneath you’re able to deliver.”

Prado said he will continue making his base in Maryland through December before deciding whether to return to Florida for the winter.