Prat Wins Three Stakes, Named Jockey of the Week

When major stakes races are offered with opportunities to earn points to the Kentucky Derby (G1) or the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Flavien Prat is sure to be there. On Saturday, Colonial Downs was the track and stakes races with major implications for the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks. Prat's five wins on the card included the Virginia Oaks, earning points into the Kentucky Oaks on the first Friday in May. The panel of racing experts voted Prat Jockey of the Week for March 9-March 15. Prat began the race week on Thursday and Friday at his home track of Aqueduct before heading to Colonial Downs for Virginia Derby Day on Saturday. Prat set the tone for his 5-win day by visiting the winners circle in the first race for trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr. and the fourth race for two-time Eclipse Award trainer Brad Cox. Trainer Whit Beckman gave a leg up to Prat aboard Tour Player in the Royal New Kent Stakes for 4-year-olds and up. Facing just three rivals, the 5-year-old Tour Player went off as the 7-2 second choice. On the far turn, Prat angled Tour Player outside taking command in the final furlong to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:33.57 for one mile. "He was a real pro out there," Prat said to Colonial Downs publicity. "The track is in great condition and I'm very grateful to be here." Riding for Saffie Joseph, Jr., Prat was aboard Eunomia in the second division of the Sandy Bottom. Off as the favorite in the field of seven fillies and mares, the 5-year-old Eunomia stalked the pace set by Queen Azteca before taking the lead in mid-stretch to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:34.21 for one mile. Prat's fifth win of the day came in the Virginia Oaks aboard California invader, Bottle of Rouge for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. As the 4-5 favorite, Bottle of Rouge did not disappoint. After being bottled up on the rail, Prat found an opening on the far turn. Bottle of Rouge took command to win by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:41.41 for a mile and one-sixteenth, earning 37.5 points to the Kentucky Oaks (G1). "She's improving race after race and continues to show she can handle more distance," Prat said. This week, Prat rides at Aqueduct Thursday and Friday. The next stop is the Big Easy on Saturday for closing weekend of Fair Grounds and eight mounts including Life of Joy in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) for Brad Cox and Emerging Market for five-time Eclipse Award trainer Chad Brown in the Louisiana Derby (G2). Other nominees for Jockey of the Week included Francisco Arrieta who won the Whitmore (G3), Emisael Jaramillo who won the Santa Ana (G3); Jose Ortiz who won 10 races during the week, Mike Smith who won the San Simeon (G3) and Jaime Torres who won the Virginia Derby.