Flavien Prat broke a 23-year-old record for most victories by a jockey in graded stakes races when he guided King of Gosford to a gate-to-wire win in the $200,000 Mathis Mile (G2) on Thursday, opening day at Santa Anita Park.
King of Gosfprd. Benoit Photo.
Johannes wins San Gabriel; She Feels Pretty soars in American Oaks
Poised to win an Eclipse Award as the nation’s top jockey for the first time in his career, Prat chalked up graded stakes win No. 56 for the year – topping the mark of 55 set in 2003 by Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey.
“I think there couldn’t be a better place to win it than here at Santa Anita,” said the 32-year-old native of France. “It is definitely worth all the work when something like this happens.”
King of Gosford, breaking from the inside post in the field of seven 3-year-olds, took the lead and never wavered, winning by a length over Stay Hot.
Sent off as the 7-10 favorite, the winner trained by Phil D’Amato returned $3.40 on a $2 win bet. Winning time on the firm turf course was 1:34.49.
“He just took advantage of a nice, comfortable pace scenario,” D’Amato said. “Flavien did a great job of nursing him along easily up front, and when it was time to kick on at the top of the lane, he showed a big turn of foot.”
It was the fourth stakes win this year, but first graded stakes win for King of Gosford. Prat, however, is used to winning at the elite level.
“Hats off to you, my friend,’’ Bailey relayed to Prat via a hookup through FanDuel TV. “You’re not done yet, Keep it up.’’
“It’s a great honor,” Prat said in the winner’s circle. “Jerry is someone I admire. I’ve always looked up to him. It’s an honor to break the record.”
Prat also extended his record for overall stakes wins to 81 – he topped Irad Ortiz, Jr.’s record of 79 earlier this month.
In other turf races at Santa Anita…
Johannes states case for an Eclipse in San Gabriel
Johannes ($2.60) made a strong case for an Eclipse Award as the champion male turf horse with a strong finishing kick and a three-quarter length victory in the $200,000 San Gabriel (G2).
Johannes, who got a ground-saving trip under Umberto Rispoli, was taken wide four wide entering the stretch and ran down Mi Hermano Ramon and Seal Team.
The 4-year-old Johannes, trained by Tim Yakteen, completed his campaign with five victories in six starts – all five in graded stakes races and the lone loss coming by three-quarters of a length in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) last month. He won a pair of Grade 2s and three Grade 1s.
“With a horse like him, it’s not possible to panic, you know, you press the button and in three strikes, you’re right up there,” Rispoli said.
Winning time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:46.50 and gave Johannes a 7-for-7 lifetime record at Santa Anita.
“In my heart, he is a true champion,” Yakteen said. “I hope others view it that way.”
Yakteen said Johannes could run next in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 25.
American Oaks: She Feels Pretty makes it two in a row
She Feels Pretty ($3.20) took charge at the quarter-pole and rolled a 2 ½-length victory over Kathynmarissa in the 1 ¼-mile American Oaks (G2) for 3-year-old fillies.
Ridden by John Velazquez, the chestnut filly by Krakonite won in time of 1:58.69 for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
She Feels Pretty, the 3-5 favorite in a field of 11, came into the race off a win in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 12.
“She got a little keen, broke a little slow and then when she passed the dirt she took like a weird step and then she got up and started running up,” Velazquez said. “I wanted to keep her covered up, she is much better covered up, but today she was really keen. I put her right behind the horse in front of me and I held her the best I could.”
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
