Jockey Flavien Prat knows all too well not to get overly excited about that day's rides. What might seem like a big day in the making can easily end in disappointment. But sometimes the horse racing gods shine down upon you.
That's what Prat experienced Nov. 2 when he won a track record seven races on the final day of the Belmont at the Big A meet. But what was impressive was not only how he first tied the previous record (6)—winning six straight races—but the cherry on top was a photo-finish win in the Red Smith Stakes (G2T).
"When I came here today, I thought I had some good mounts," Prat said, "but it's happened before where you think you're going to win a few and get nothing. The horses have been running well and showing up—it's great."
And if one record wasn't enough, Shug McGaughey, trainer of the victorious Cugino, won his record-extending sixth edition of the Red Smith.
Common Defense got out of the gate quickly and set the pace for most of the 1 3/8 miles distance the Smith was contested. Jockey Christopher Elliott wanted the Kenny McPeek trainee out front where he set fractional times of :24.31, :50.90, 1:17.01, and 1:41.64.
Prat had Cugino stalking from the outside of the rail-riding Common Defense, who led most of the way by two to three lengths. As the field began turning out of the backstretch, Common Defense saw his lead cut to under a length.
Cugino reeled in Common Defense but couldn't break away as they marched down the stretch stride for stride. Elliott began to have to work a little harder as his saddle slipped forward and he had to keep his ride straight.
"My horse was wanting to lean and lug out a little bit, but he ran a good race," he said. "He fought back and was trying really hard."
Even with that working against him, Elliott had Common Defense ahead by a neck for the final half furlong. But Cugino grinded away under Prat's insistence to secure a nose win at the wire. The final time was 2:17.13.
"I was very happy with my trip—I was behind Chris," Prat said. "(Cugino has) been running short so the distance could have been a question mark (for him) and I thought it could be better if we turned it into a sprint, and that's what happened. It was a good run."
McGaughey was also happy.
"I'm very pleased with how hard he tried," he said of his trainee. "That was the first time we got to stretch him out that far. Whether he wants to run this far or not, I don't know, but he did it today. He is just a nice horse. He likes being a horse. He wants to be a little tough if you see us saddling and stuff, but that is just part of him. We are pleased to get this stakes."
Cugino is owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and Jimmy Kahig LLC. He was bred by Gage Hill Stables and Bill Farish.
The 4-year-old son of Twirling Candy paid $4.36 for a $2 win bet. Common Defense was second and Desvio third.
Cugino is 3-0-0 from four starts this year and 6-4-0 from 13 starts with $761,410 in earnings.
As for Prat, the sixth win tied him with Eric Cancel, Javier Castellano, Steve Cauthen, Dylan Davis, Mike Smith, and Ron Turcotte as jockeys to have won that many times in one day at Aqueduct Racetrack. Three races later, Prat set the new mark in an allowance contest, winning aboard Growth Trajectory.
