Kentucky Derby: Prat wants to experience how winning really feels

Flavien Prat has come closer to finishing first in the Kentucky Derby in each of the last three years than he did when he actually won the race in 2019.

Prat’s last three mounts in the Derby have all crossed the wire in third place. Last year, Angel of Empire, the lukewarm favorite, was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Mage. In 2022, Zandon was beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Rich Strike. In 2021, Hot Rod Charlie came within a length of Medina Spirit at the wire. Medina Spirit was ultimately disqualified for a medication violation, and Hot Rod Charlie is officially recognized as the second-place finisher behind Mandaloun.

Meanwhile, Prat is officially recognized as the rider of 2019 Kentucky Derby winner Country House, a 65-1 shot who crossed the wire second, 1 3/4 lengths behind Maximum Security who was disqualified for interfering with another horse nearing the top of the stretch.

For Prat, it was a Derby victory that lacked all the feels.

“There was a lot of controversy, it’s not like you can really jump up and down and say it’s amazing,” Prat said. “Obviously, a mix of emotions; he won by disqualification. It’s not something you can really enjoy it as much, it’s the way it happened.”

The Derby was the only time Prat rode Country House. The horse did not come out of the race in good shape and was ultimately retired without ever racing again.

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“I think that actually was the most disappointing thing about it is I never had a chance to ride him back again and he never had a chance to show if he was just [good for] that race or if he was just coming along and just beginning to be a very good horse,” Prat said.

Prat, 31, said the results of the last three years weren’t difficult to digest since he didn’t feel a bad trip compromised his chances to win.

“It’s frustrating to get so close, but at the same time when you don’t have any excuse and the horse ran his race there’s not much else you could ask for,” Prat said.

Except for another chance. On May 4, Prat will get just that when he rides Catching Freedom in the 150th Kentucky Derby.

Prat rode Catching Freedom for the first time in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby when he rallied him from last in a field of 11 to outfinish Honor Marie and win by a length. Catching Freedom, who hails from the same connections as Angel of Empire – the Albaugh Family Stable and trainer Brad Cox – impressed Prat in the Louisiana Derby.

“We got a lot further back than we were expecting and he went by everybody the right way,” Prat said. “He travels very well behind horses, you can put him inside, outside, he doesn’t mind anything. He has a good mind, that’s a good point for him.”

As a native of France, Prat may not have had the Kentucky Derby top of mind as a race he longed to win. Prat rode at Churchill Downs on Derby Day in 2016. He didn’t ride the race itself, but he watched from the grandstand and marveled at the spectacle of it.

“It was something I never witnessed before,” Prat said. “Since that day, I really understood how big it is for everybody – the owners, trainers, breeders, jockeys, and even the horse. To get to the Derby is such a long journey, I do think I really understand how big it is.”

Prat rode his first Derby in 2017 when he finished third aboard 40-1 shot Battle of Midway. The only time he finished worse than third in six Derby rides was in 2018 when his mount Solomini finished 10th.

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Prat is winless in six rides in the Kentucky Oaks, but will have a big chance this year aboard potential favorite Tarifa. Prat has ridden Tarifa to victories in the Rachel Alexandra in the slop and the Fair Grounds Oaks over a fast track.

“She ran really well [in the Rachel Alexandra] and came back on a dry track and ran as well, if not better, and I thought she had a bit of a challenging trip,” said Prat, who finished fourth in last year’s Oaks aboard favored Wet Paint. “She won’t be like Catching Freedom, where she might be a little more difficult to ride and to handle between horses, but I think the talent is there.”

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