2023 Eclipse Awards: Flavien Prat

Flavien Prat went on a Grade 1-winning tear in 2023, accounting for 13 such races with 12 different horses at tracks across the United States. For his performance at the highest level of the game, he is an Eclipse Award finalist for outstanding jockey of 2023.

Prat, a 31-year-old native of France, won Grade 1 races in Arkansas, California, Kentucky, and New York. His first of the year came in the Beholder Mile aboard A Mo Reay in March at Santa Anita. He scored his final Grade 1 of the year at the same track with Speed Boat Beach in the Malibu on Dec. 26.

Prat’s record in Grade 1 races last year was second among all North American-based riders. He also ranked second in total graded stakes wins for the year with 41, which was one off leader Irad Ortiz Jr.

:: Full list of 2023 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

In overall mount earnings, Prat compiled $26,746,503, third best among riders based in North America. He won 183 races, among them the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in a thriller with Hard to Justify.

“She fought back right away as soon as [She Feels Pretty] came along side of her,” Prat told Daily Racing Form. “Every time I asked her to do something, she responded really well.”

Prat also won Grade 1 races last year with Angel of Empire, Arabian Knight, Chez Pierre, Matareya, Prince of Monaco, Program Trading, West Will Power, Wet Paint, and Whitebeam.

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