Pratt guides Friar's Road to San Marcos victory

ARCADIA, Calif. - In February 2020, top California jockey Flavien Prat rode United to a win as a heavy favorite in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita.

United was second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita the previous November. The 2020 San Marcos was the first of seven stakes wins to date for United, who is currently sidelined with an injury.

On Sunday, Prat rode Friar’s Road to a victory in the $225,000 San Marcos, a result that sparked memories of United. Friar’s Road, 5, won his first stakes in Sunday’s San Marcos Stakes.

The turf marathoners have similarities. United is a stalker who often makes a sustained run to reach contention. Friar’s Road won the San Marcos in a similar manner.

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“It takes him awhile to get going,” Prat said of Friar’s Road.

Sent off favored in a field of five, Friar’s Road closed from third and pulled clear to win by a convincing 4 1/4 lengths in his 2022 debut. Friar’s Road trailed Bob and Jackie by three lengths with a quarter-mile remaining in the San Marcos and took the lead in the final furlong.

Friar’s Road ($4.20) ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 1:58.67 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 100.

Prat was aboard Friar’s Road in recent workouts.

“I thought he was training well,” Prat said.

Owned by William Warren Jr., and his wife, Suzanne, and trained by Michael McCarthy, Friar’s Road was third for the first mile of the San Marcos, tracking Acclimate, who set a solid pace of 22.69 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.60 for a half-mile. Acclimate was closely followed by Bob and Jackie, who took the lead on the turn.

Prat positioned Friar’s Road on the inside on the turn and moved to the outside in the stretch.

“He got me in the race,” Prat said. “We had a strong pace and I thought that was in his favor. He was there when I had to make a move.”

Bob and Jackie (13-1) held second, finishing a head in front of 2-1 Say the Word.

Lincoln Hawk was fourth, followed by Acclimate in the small field.

Say the Word was last of five with a furlong remaining and was closest to the front at the finish.

“He was coming along, but he might have been a little rusty,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.

Bob and Jackie and Friar’s Road were first and second, separated by a nose, in the Grade 3 San Gabriel Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on dirt on Dec. 26.

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The San Marcos was the first start for Say the Word since a win in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Nov. 26. Friar’s Road was third in that field, beaten 1 1/4 lengths.

Friar’s Road has won 3 of 13 starts and has earned $346,500. Prior to Sunday’s race, Prat last rode Friar’s Road to a second in a maiden race at Oaklawn Park in May 2020.

Prat is the leading rider at the current Santa Anita winter-spring meeting with 36 wins, well clear of second-place John Velazquez, who has 21 wins. Prat did not have an ideal weekend. Friar’s Road was his first win with his 18th mount beginning on Friday.

“Going into the weekend, I thought I had very good chances,” he said. “It happens. Some ran well and some didn’t.”