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HORSE RACING

Prado, Nafzger lead six into Hall of Fame

DERBY-WINNING RIDERS, TRAINER SELECTED FOR TOP RACING HONOR

WIRE, SPECIAL REPORTS

It's been nearly two years since Barbaro left jockey Edgar Prado searching for words after their triumph together in the Kentucky Derby.

Prado had trouble talking again on Monday after learning he had been selected for induction into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame.

"I'm just speechless," said Prado, who grew up in a racing family of 11 children in Peru and began his riding career there at age 16. "I'm shaking like a leaf."

Two-time Derby-winning trainer Carl Nafzger, Inside Information, a champion filly in the 1990s, and Manila, a grass specialist who won 12 of his final 15 races in the 1980s, were also among six honorees voted into the hall.

Ismael Valenzuela, a two-time Derby-winning jockey, and the California-bred Ancient Title were selected to the hall by the Historic Review Committee. The Class of 2008 will be inducted Aug. 4 in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The 40-year-old Prado currently has 6,040 victories from 31,539 starts, with earnings of $205,283,461. He ranks seventh on the career earnings list. Prado led the nation in victories from 1997-99 while based in Maryland. Since relocating to New York, he has been among the earnings leaders and has added dozens of graded stakes wins, including the Derby and two Belmont Stakes, aboard Sarava in 2002 and Birdstone in 2004. He won the Eclipse Award as the champion jockey of 2006.

Nafzger was a top bull rider in the 1960s before turning to training. The 66-year-old won the Derby with Unbridled in 1990 and with Street Sense last year. Street Sense is the only horse to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby.

Nafzger also trained Banshee Breeze, the 3-year-old filly champion of 1998. He has 1,072 career victories from 8,057 starts and purse earnings of $50,329,141.

"If you don't believe in God, study my life. It's been a miracle," Nafzger said after he was told he was selected. "Horses have taken us to places you just can't go."

Valenzuela, who won 22 stakes aboard the great Kelso, rode 2,545 winners from 1951-80. He won the Derby and Preakness with Tim Tam in 1958. A decade later, he completed the Derby-Preakness double with Forward Pass, who finished second in the '68 Derby but was declared the winner after Dancer's Image was disqualified.

"I am the happiest man today," Valenzuela said. "This was my last chapter in my racing career that I wanted to complete. My last ride across the finish line, at 73 being inducted into the Hall of Fame."

Zito picks jockeys

Trainer Nick Zito confirmed riders for his two Kentucky Derby hopefuls Monday morning, naming Julien Leparoux to ride Cool Coal Man and Rafael Bejarano to ride Anak Nakal.

"Rafael won his first stakes for me on Sir Shackleton and Julien won the last two races of the fall here last year to win the riding title," Zito said.

Bejarano has not ridden Anak Nakal, but did post an allowance win on Cool Coal Man at Churchill last fall. Leparoux has not ridden Cool Coal Man, but did win the Kentucky Jockey Club last fall aboard Anak Nakal.

Zito's third Derby hopeful, 2007 juvenile champ War Pass, was knocked off the Derby trail Saturday with an injury.