Jockey Edgar Prado rides 7,000th winner Tuesday at Parx

Hall of Fame jockey Edgar Prado won his 7,000th career race Tuesday at Parx Racing aboard a 4-year-old claimer named Thefundsarelow in Race 6.

In the $12,500-level event at a mile, the 50-year-old Prado saved ground on the inside with his mount before rallying on the far turn to challenge the loose leader Shur Fox. He secured the lead in the stretch run and did enough to hold off late challengers Extrasexymazzerati and Take the Stromboli. Thefundsarelow paid $6.60 to win.

Prado is best known as the regular rider of 2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro. One race later in the Preakness Stakes, a tragic injury occurred to Barbaro in the early stages of the race, and Prado is credited with pulling up the horse up in a timely manner and giving him a chance to live.

Two years earlier, Prado famously ended Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown hopes in the 2004 Belmont Stakes while riding Birdstone to victory. In 2002, he also ended War Emblem’s Triple Crown hopes aboard Sarava in the Belmont Stakes. In both years, as well as 2003, 2005 and 2006, he also ranked second in earnings.

According to Equibase, other top horses ridden by Prado include Benny the Bull, Peace Rules, Lemon Drop Kid, Saint Liam, and more recently Runhappy, who took the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Keeneland in a popular victory. 

Overall, Prado’s mounts have earned more $267,000,000. He is the eighth jockey in North America to reach the 7,000 wins mark.

The jockeys with more wins all-time, in order, are Russell Baze (12,842), Laffit Pincay, Jr. (9,530), Bill Shoemaker (8,833), Pat Day (8,803), David Gall (7,396), Chris McCarron (7,141), and Angel Cordero, Jr. (7,051).

Prado is the only active jockey on that list.