Prat suspended, but can ride in designated races

Jockey Flavien Prat was suspended for racing this Saturday and Sunday, but is allowed to ride in designated stakes races owing to an agreement reached years ago between the California Horse Racing Board and the Jockeys’ Guild.

As a result, Prat will be aboard Big Score in the Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Derby on Saturday and Lull in the Matriarch.

Prat originally had been suspended for four days from an incident at Santa Anita earlier this year, but he appealed and the CHRB, in executive session, recently halved the suspension.

Prat is scheduled to ride in more than one stakes race both days this weekend. By rule, for each day he does so he will have to serve an additional penalty day at a later date.

The stewards also suspended Mario Gutierrez for three days, beginning this past Sunday, as a result of his disqualification aboard Gunslinger on Nov. 11, and they sat down apprentice Ruben Fuentes for three days, beginning Thursday, for careless riding aboard Lambo Luxx in the third race on Nov. 12.

In addition, Tiago Pereira was fined $100 for excessive use of the whip in the final race Thursday, in which his mount finished seventh.