Flavien Prat's record-setting year continues as he tied and then set the single year stakes record and tied the graded stakes record on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack. The panel of racing experts acknowledged the feat by voting Prat Jockey of the Week for December 2-December 8.
The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher gave a leg up to Prat on Tizzy in the Sky in the Gr. III Go for Wand, a one-mile test for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Breaking from the inside post at odds of 3-1 in the field of seven, Tizzy in the Sky tracked longshot Rachel's Rock up the backstretch. Tizzy in the Sky stuck her head in front at the top of the stretch but race favorite Occult with Irad Ortiz, Jr. was gaining ground near the wire but the 5-year-old dug in to win by a half-length in 1:35.64.
"I thought I could be the pace, but we weren't as fast as the other one outside of us, but she was right there and once we got into the turn, she was able to press on," Prat said to NYRA Publicity. "It's been a great season and I'm very grateful," Prat said about tying the stakes record. "Just looking back, it's been a great year, and I hope I can get the record."
It didn't take long for Prat to fulfill that wish as he was the pilot three races later on two-year-old Poster for trainer Eoin Harty in the Gr. II Remsen, a qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby (GI). Off as the third choice in the field of six, Poster was last after the opening quarter-mile. Prat and Poster took a two-length lead in mid-stretch but were chased by Aviator Gui all the way to the wire with Poster prevailing by a nose in 1:50.37 for a mile and one-eighth test on the dirt.
The win not only gave Prat the single season stakes record surpassing Irad Ortiz, Jr.'s previous mark of 79 set in 2022, but it increased his graded stakes total to 55 tying Hall of Famer Jerry Bailey's record which he set in 2003.
"I'm very thankful," Prat said to NYRA Publicity. "There's a lot people behind me who supported me all year long, and Godolphin (owner of Poster) is a big part of it." "They've been very supportive of me and my agent has done a great job as well. Just very thankful."
Prat's magical year has included setting a new stakes record at Saratoga with 18 including 14 graded as well as two Breeders' Cup wins with Moira in the Filly and Mare Turf and Sierra Leone in the Classic. He also won the Bill Shoemaker Award as outstanding jockey.
At the top of his game and with a goal of an Eclipse Award, Prat, 32, could achieve and surpass the graded stakes record with a multitude of opportunities before the end of the year including Saturday at the Los Alamitos Thoroughbred meet which features the Gr. II Los Alamitos Futurity, Gulfstream Park December 21 or Santa Anita's opening weekend December 26-29 with nine graded stakes.
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week were Florent Geroux who won the Gr. II Demoiselle, Juan J. Hernandez who won the Gr. II Starlet, Ramon Vasquez with two stakes wins at Oaklawn and Hall of Famer John Velazquez who won the Gr. II Cigar Mile.
