Court ruling allows Prat to ride July 1-4 while fighting suspension

ARCADIA, Calif. – Flavien Prat, the leading rider at Santa Anita's spring-summer meeting entering Friday's program, received a court stay this week allowing him to ride July 1-4 while contesting a recent suspension, according to his agent, Derek Lawson.

Prat appealed the suspension to the California Horse Racing Board this week but was denied, leading to the court action, Lawson said.

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Prat, 24, was cited for his ride on Spooky Woods in the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks on June 16. Spooky Woods finished third but was disqualified and placed fifth for causing interference in the stretch. Track stewards ruled that Prat moved his mount to the inside and interfered with another runner, leading to the disqualification.

The suspension dates were issued for the final four days of the meeting. Prat is suspended for three days this weekend – Friday through Sunday – after dropping the appeal of a suspension issued May 25.

Going into Friday’s program, Prat led all riders with 34 wins, three more than Rafael Bejarano and four in front of Joe Talamo. At the winter-spring meeting that ended in early April, Prat led all riders with 62 wins.