It happens every year, jockeys will fly just about anywhere in pursuit of the mount that will take them to the Kentucky Derby (GI) on the first Saturday in May. On Saturday, that search took reigning Eclipse Award winner, Flavien Prat, to Tampa Bay Downs and the Sam F. Davis Stakes on Festival Preview Day. Prat then flew to California and Santa Anita for Sunday's card and a win in the Sweet Life Stakes. The panel of racing experts voted Prat Jockey of the Week for February 3-February 9.
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.
On Saturday, Prat traveled to Tampa Bay for the mount on John Hancock for two-time Eclipse Award trainer Brad Cox in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, a "Road to the Kentucky Derby" race with qualifying points.
Off as the favorite and breaking from post position two, John Hancock set the early pace dueling with Owen Almighty and Irad Ortiz, Jr. In deep stretch, John Hancock held a narrow lead and dug in to win by a half-length over Owen Almighty in 1:42.27, a new stakes record for the mile and one-sixteenth.
"He (Owen Almighty) did get ahead of me at the 1/8 pole," said Prat to Tampa Bay publicity. "I was trying to give him a chance because he was pretty aggressive going into the first turn and going faster than I wanted to, but he switched off nice on the backside. The both of us made a very good run turning for home. (Owen Almighty) took the lead at the eighth pole, but my horse was very game and came back."
Back at his winter base, Santa Anita, on Sunday, Prat was given a leg up by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert on Casalu in the Sweet Life Stakes for three-year-old fillies over the downhill turf course. Off as the 3-5 favorite in the field of nine, Casalu broke from post position five and took the race by 1-3/4 lengths in nearly gate to wire fashion in 1:12.90 for about six and one-half furlongs.
"It was pretty simple," Prat said to Santa Anita publicity, "She broke well and as always was very professional. She got the job done. I was thankful to pick up the mount. I know Kazushi Kimura is out (currently sidelined with a leg injury) and I wish him a speedy recovery."
Prat will ride at Santa Anita Friday then travel to New Orleans for "Louisiana Derby Preview Day" at Fair Grounds and 10 mounts including the Gr. II Risen Star Stakes. Prat will be aboard Septarian for five-time Eclipse Award trainer Chad Brown. A win in the Risen Star Stakes is worth 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
Other nominees for Jockey of the Week were Junior Alvarado with two stakes wins at Tampa Bay, Frankie Dettori with a win in the Gr. III San Marcos, C.J. McMahon who won the Gr. III Bayakoa and Irad Ortiz, Jr. who led all riders in wins with nine for the week.
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