A native of Peru, Prado became the 16th jockey in North America to eclipse 6,000 wins in his career. He also achieved win number 5,000 at Gulfstream in 2004. Prado is also seventh on the all-time money list with his mounts earning nearly $202 million.
Prado, who narrowly missed the milestone a day earlier when Keep the Peace was nosed out by Bsharpsonata in the Forward Gal (gr. II), took Sumphin, a 4-year-old bay gelding trained by Tom Albertrani, wire-to-wire in the sixth race, a one-mile dirt event. It was his second mount of the afternoon.
Prado, 40, began riding in the states in 1986, initially setting up his tack in New England and then moving to Maryland. After proving himself as one of the best on the Maryland circuit, including leading the nation in wins from 1997-1999, he moved to New York in 2000.
Prado, who has two riding titles at Gulfstream and has captured three Breeders' Cup victories, gained national success in 2002 when he rode 70-1 longshot Sarava to a Belmont Stakes (gr. I) score, and two years later stopped Smarty Jones’ Triple Crown bid when he guided Birdstone to a Belmont upset.
Prado’s biggest moment came in 2006 when he rode Barbaro to a 6 ½-length victory in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Later that year, he earned an Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding jockey.
