2022 Eclipse Awards: Flavien Prat

Jockey Flavien Prat was one of the most accomplished riders of 2022, but his year could be summed up by one horse: Flightline.

Prat was the regular rider of the front-runner for Horse of the Year. He guided Flightline to victories in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, the Hill ‘n Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, and the TVG Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

The success helped push Prat’s mount earnings for 2022 to $29,832,252, second-best in North America. Overall, the rider won 236 races from 1,013 starts, with 42 of his victories coming in graded stakes. Prat also won six races on a single card at two different tracks, Santa Anita and Del Mar.

For his record, the 30-year-old native of France is an Eclipse Award finalist for champion jockey of 2022.

:: Full list of 2022 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Flightline caused a stir in September, when he won the Pacific Classic by 19 1/4 lengths. For the effort, the horse earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 126.

“When we hit the three-eighths pole and I gave him his head, he reacted the right way and went forward, but I didn’t really expect to open up so much.” Prat told Daily Racing Form. “First time a mile and a quarter, I wanted to make sure I keep him busy all the way to the eighth pole, but the separation was amazing.”

Some of Prat’s other Grade 1 winners last year were As Time Goes By, Blazing Sevens, Regal Glory, and Gina Romantica.

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