Reigning Eclipse Award-winning journeyman Flavien Prat added another milestone to his resume with his first NYRA riding title at the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet. During the week, he won four stakes races at the July 4 Racing Festival including the Belmont Oaks (G1) and five races from eight mounts on July 5. The panel of racing experts voted Prat Jockey of the Week June 30-July 6.
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.
Although Prat did not post a win on July 3, Day One of the Festival, on Friday trainer Rodolphe Brisset gave a leg up to Prat on Kingsolver in the Schuylerville, a six furlong sprint for 2-year-old filles. Kingsolver conceded the lead to race favorite My Sweetheart with Frankie Dettori in the irons but turning for home, Kingsolver rallied to overtake My Sweetheart and win by two lengths in 1:13.17.
Riding for Eclipse Award trainer Chad Brown, Prat rode Zulu Kingdom, in the Manila (G3) at one mile on the inner turf for three-year-olds. Off as the favorite in the field of eight, Zulu Kingdom raced in second behind Maui Strong before passing the front runner in mid-stretch for a 3/4-length win in 1:33.11.
On Saturday, Prat started his five-win day in the Sanford (G3) riding Obliteration for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen. Off as the favorite Obliteration showed the way for a dominating 10-1/2 length win in 1:10.65 for six furlongs on the dirt for 2-year-olds.
Prat won the fifth race for Miguel Clement with National Archive, the sixth race aboard Embrace Time for Eclipse Award trainer Brad Cox and the eighth race with Twisted Filigree for George Weaver.
Prat's final win of the day came in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) for Brad Cox aboard Fionn. Prat rallied Fionn from off the pace to collar the heavily favored Nitrogen on the wire in 1:44.84 for a new track record for a mile and one-eighth on the turf.
His attempt to win six races on the card fell short but Prat won five races for the second time in nine days. He also has won five races from eight mounts on July 4, 2023 at Belmont and July 4, 2024 at Aqueduct.
Prat earned his first NYRA riding title with 43 wins and $4,047,540 in mount earnings. Prat also posted another milestone during the meet with his 2,000th North American career win on June 27.
"Obviously, I'm very grateful and proud, and it's an achievement," said Prat to NYRA publicity. "There's a lot of people who supported me and I feel very grateful."
Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Kendrick Carmouche who won the Suburban (G2), Manny Franco who won the Belmont Derby Inv. (G1), Jorge A. Vargas who posted his 1,000th career win and Hall of Famer John Velazquez with three stakes wins at Horseshoe Indiana.
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