Who’s betting against jockey Flavien Prat at Churchill Downs on Saturday? Do so at your own risk.
The reigning Eclipse Award-winning rider won five races at Aqueduct Racetrack on Friday (June 27). His fourth win of the day – aboard favorite Iron Max in a New York-bred maiden claimer on the turf -- gave him a milestone 2,000th victory.
The 32-year-old Frenchman is listed on 11 horses on Stephen Foster Day at Churchill, including Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone in the $1 million Stephen Foster Stakes (G1).
“Honestly, when I started riding, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be here in New York and celebrating 2,000 wins, so I’m very grateful,” Prat said. “There’s a lot of people along that way that believed in me and gave me an opportunity, so I’m very thankful. The trainers, owners, and my agent has done a great job, and my family have supported me as well.”
He’ll be in Louisville, Kentucky for Saturday’s 12-race card. In addition to Sierra Leone, Prat’s mounts are Rule Seventy Six (8-1) in race 2; Shangrala Road (5-2) in race 3; Loco Abarrio (8-1) in race 4; Incursion (12-1) in race 5; Lost and Found (10-1) in race 6; Royal Spa (4-1) in race 7 (Fleur de Lis Stakes); Lush Lips (9-5) in race 8 (Tepin Stakes); Otto the Conqueror (15-1) in race 9 (Kelly’s Landing Stakes); Lagynos (6-1) in race 10 (Wise Dan Stakes); Sierra Leone (5-2) in race 11 (Stephen Foster Stakes); and Siesta Key (20-1) in race 12 (American Derby).
He’s listed on eight horses Sunday at Churchill: Bundle (3-1) in race 1; Bedeviled (10-1) in race 2; Password (7-2) in the Bashford Manor; Essential Coffee (3-1) in the Debutante Stakes; Extra Anejo (6-1) in the Hanshin Stakes; Duvet Day (5-1) in the Anchorage overnight stakes, Verifire (5-1) in the Maxfield Stakes, and Straight Forward (10-1) in race 11.
Prat’s winners at the Big A on Friday were La Mehana ($6.20) in race 1, Highland Falls ($2.40) in race 2, Shesalittle Edgy ($7) in race 5, Iron Max ($2.40) in race 7, and Global Prosperity ($14.40) in race 9 – for victory 2,001. Prat was also scheduled to ride three horses at Penn National on Friday night, but two of his mounts were scratched and a third was ridden by another jockey.
He led the nation last year with over $37 million in purse earnings and won the Eclipse Award as the top jockey for the first time. He also set a record for stakes win with 82, and graded stakes wins with 56.
Prat has two classic wins – the 2019 Kentucky Derby (G1) aboard Country House after first-place finisher Maximum Security was disqualified and the 2021 Preakness Stakes (G1) aboard Rombauer.
Among his top horses are 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, a Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner, 2024 Filly & Mare champion Moira and Sierra Leone, the 2024 champion 3-year-old.
“He's very disciplined,” Prat’s agent Brad Pegram said. “He's very even-keeled. He's never too high and never too low, just steady -- one race at a time. He's very dedicated and extremely competitive. He loves what he does, loves the sport and is always moving forward.”
