Prat, Hernandez, Rispoli headed out of town for lucrative stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – The three leading jockeys at the current Santa Anita winter-spring meeting – Juan Hernandez, Flavien Prat, and Umberto Rispoli – will ride at Fair Grounds or Turfway Park on Saturday, the first time the trio have all been away from California since Jan. 25.

Through Monday, Hernandez led all riders with 43 wins, closely followed by Prat with 41. Rispoli is third with 32 wins.

On Saturday, Prat is booked on six mounts at Fair Grounds, including John Hancock in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby and Sierra Leone in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic. Sierra Leone, the champion 3-year-old male of 2024, has not raced since a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar last November.

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Hernandez has six mounts at Turfway Park, including Charlie’s to Blame in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks for 3-year-olds.

Rispoli has four mounts at Turfway Park, notably Lord Bullingdon in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Classic.

All three are booked to ride at Santa Anita on Sunday.

On Jan. 25, Prat and Hernandez rode at Oaklawn Park, while Rispoli was at Gulfstream Park.

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