Reigning two-time Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat always seems to be where racing's spotlight shines the brightest. On Saturday that happened to be Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans which featured the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2) with Prat providing the winning rides.
The panel of racing experts voted Prat Jockey of the Week for the second consecutive week.
After starting the race week at Aqueduct, Prat traveled to Fair Grounds for Louisiana Derby Day.
Two-time Eclipse Award trainer Brad Cox gave a leg up to Prat aboard Life of Joy in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), which awards 100 points to the winner on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks on May 1.
Off as the second choice in the field of seven, Life of Joy raced just off the pace in the opening stages. On the second turn, Life of Joy began picking off the leaders, overtaking race favorite Bella Ballerina inside the three-sixteenths pole. Life of Joy drew away to a convincing 3-3/4 lengths win in 1:42.27 just off the track record of 1:42.01 for the mile and one-sixteenth.
"I thought the last time she got beat by a good filly (undefeated Zany) and I didn't think the setup of the race was to her favor," Prat said to Fair Grounds publicity. "But today she had a lot of pace to run at and she ran a great race."
Riding for five-time Eclipse Award trainer Chad Brown, Prat was aboard Emerging Market in the Louisiana Derby (G2). The 3-year-old was making just his second career start after winning his debut at Tampa Bay Downs on February 7 while piloted by Prat.
Breaking widest of all in the nine-horse field, Emerging Market raced in mid-pack as 21-1 longshot and California invader Pavlovian led the field. Emerging Market confronted Pavlovian at the three-sixteenths pole and the two raced in tandem down the long Fair Grounds stretch. Emerging Market just edged clear to win by a head in 1:55.18 for a mile and three-sixteenths earning 100 points toward the Derby.
"I was a little worried about the nine hole, but we worked out a good trip," Prat said. "Honestly, when I turned for home I thought I would win easily, but Pavlovian gave us a good challenge."
Prat rides at Oaklawn on Thursday in the Hot Springs Stakes aboard Desert Gate for Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and Friday in the Fantasy Stakes (G2) on Explora for Baffert. Then off to Gulfstream Park for Florida Derby Day and mounts in eight stakes races including the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2) aboard She Be Smooth for Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher and Commandment for Brad Cox in the Florida Derby (G1).
Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Micah Husbands who won the Essex Handicap (G3), Jose Ortiz with three stakes wins including the Muniz Memorial (G3) and his second leading rider title at Fair Grounds, Irad Ortiz, Jr. who won the Jeff Ruby Stakes (G3) and Hall of Famer John Velazquez who won three stakes including the Kentucky Cup Classic (G3).
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