Prat's big day fuels his optimism ahead of Breeders' Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. – Flavien Prat has won or tied for riding titles at four meetings in Southern California since the summer of 2016. Last Saturday, Prat won three Grade 1 races on a card for the first time in his career at Santa Anita on horses bound for Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar on Nov. 3-4.

On Sunday, Prat reflected on the recent riding titles and the big day on Saturday. He was quick to answer which milestone meant more.

“Those days are better,” he said of Saturday.

On Saturday, Prat won the Zenyatta Stakes with Paradise Woods, the 3-year-old filly bound for the BC Distaff on Nov. 3. Two races later, he won the Chandelier Stakes with the unbeaten 2-year-old filly Moonshine Memories, who could go favored in the BC Juvenile Fillies on Nov. 4.

Two races after that, Prat rode Avenge to victory in the Rodeo Drive Stakes for fillies and mares on turf. She is bound for the BC Filly and Mare Turf on Nov. 4.

Last year, Prat, 25, rode his first Breeders’ Cup winner when Obviously won the Turf Sprint. A multiwin Breeders’ Cup is possible this year for Prat.

“They should all run good races, which is great,” Prat said with a smile.

On Saturday, Prat will ride another leading Breeders’ Cup contender in Ransom the Moon, who starts in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship in the buildup to the BC Sprint on Nov. 4. Ransom the Moon won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs at Del Mar on July 29 to secure a fees-paid berth in the BC Sprint.

On Sunday, Ransom the Moon worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 under Prat.

“He breezed well and felt fine,” Prat said.

Prat on Saturday also rode Solomini, who was a well-beaten second to division leader Bolt d’Oro in the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes at 1 1/16 miles. Prat rode the Bob Baffert-trained Solomini to a win in a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on Sept. 2.

“It was his first time going two turns, and he ran against a good horse,” Prat said of the FrontRunner. “I think he’ll improve.”