Prat narrowly misses passing Ortiz Jr. in final 2025 earnings standings

Flavien Prat came painfully close but ultimately fell just short of overtaking Irad Ortiz Jr. atop the earnings standings for North American-based jockeys in 2025.

Despite winning three races on Wednesday’s card at Aqueduct – the final program of 2025 – Prat fell $1,669 shy of Ortiz’s mark of $40,497,847, a single-year earnings record for a rider. Prat finished with $40,496,178.

Both Ortiz and Prat surpassed the previous single-year mark of $39,693,365 set in 2023. Prat led all jockeys in earnings in 2024 with $37,286,176 en route to winning his first Eclipse Award.

On Wednesday at Aqueduct, Prat finished fourth on his first mount aboard Le Cadeau. He then won races 2, 3, and 5 and came into his final two mounts on Wednesday’s card needing just $7,235 to surpass Ortiz. But he finished last aboard favored Kerness K in race 6 and fourth aboard favored Kay Cup in race 7. Kay Cup was beaten a head for third, a finishing position that would have allowed Prat to surpass Ortiz.

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Prat and Ortiz are considered the two top contenders for the Eclipse Award for champion jockey. The deadline to submit ballots is 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday.

In addition to his record-setting purse earnings, Ortiz led all riders in North America with 351 wins. Prat finished fourth with 310.

Prat led Ortiz in stakes wins (75-65) and graded stakes wins (46-36). Prat won 13 Grade 1 stakes, while Ortiz had nine.

Ortiz, a five-time Eclipse Award winner, did not ride Wednesday. He was not named on any horses, but according to his agent, Steve Rushing, Ortiz was scheduled to pick up a few mounts for the injured Antonio Fresu at Santa Anita. However, a forecast for rain prompted 1/ST racing officials to cancel Wednesday’s program.

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