Prat to begin serving suspension Sunday

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Flavien Prat, who led the standings at the Del Mar meeting through Thursday, begins a three-day suspension on Sunday for causing interference in the Daisycutter Handicap on turf on July 20.

Prat was cited for his ride on Painting Corners, who won the five-furlong race but drifted out through the stretch. Drayden Van Dyke, who finished second on S Y Sky, claimed foul against Painting Corners, but the stewards did not change the order of finish.

Prat’s suspension begins on Sunday and continues Wednesday and Thursday. Prat rides Secret Spice in Sunday’s Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes because the race has designated status and is exempt from routine suspensions.

Through Thursday, Prat had 13 wins at the meet, six more than second place Van Dyke. Ruben Fuentes was third with five wins.

Prat is scheduled to ride Bellafina in the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 3. As a result, Julien Leparoux has been booked to ride Vasilika in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap at Del Mar the same day, trainer Dan Ward said.

Vasilika is unbeaten in four starts this year, all in graded stakes on turf. Prat has ridden Vasilika in her last 13 starts, 12 of which have been wins.

Jockey William Antongeorgi has been given a three-day suspension beginning Sunday for his ride on The Creep in the third race at Del Mar on July 20. Antongeorgi was cited for altering course without clearance and causing interference in a $40,000 claiming race at a mile on turf. His suspension continues on Wednesday and Thursday.