The year didn’t start off the way Flavien Prat wanted it to. Not for lack of trying; The victories didn’t come the way he used to.
As of February 3, the jockey had just six wins — just one in the bet race — recorded in 2023, including a 20-day winless streak. During that time, he’s had 19 runner-up finishes.
But after winning the classifieds the day before in Thunder Road Stakes (G3T), Prat coached Phil D’Amato Prince Abama to an impressive rally Sunday in the 1 1/4 mile San Marcos Stakes (G3T) $200,000 at Santa Anita . Park. He followed that up with a second place in the Palos Verdes Stakes (G3) to add another three runner-up attempts on Saturday and Sunday.
Prat told FanDuel TV after the race: “I feel like I’m riding well and it’s just a matter of finding the holes at the right time.
Prince Abama arrives in San Marcos as one of the favorites, but for the most part of the competition it’s a long way Evan Harlan who set the speed with the initial fractions :23.62, 48.49 and 1:14.00. Evan Harlan holds another D’Amato student, Masteroffoxhound fly over the first mile.
But with Evan Harlan waning, the Masteroffoxhounds have moved and appear to be well positioned to head down the ramp with fractional time of 1:37.61.
Prat, go wide five, also face the increase opry as he and Prince Abama moved forward.
If this were a video game, Prat would have pressed the right button combination when Prince Abama reached the lead in front of the Masteroffoxhounds.
“I was in a good position,” Prat said. “I got caught up in speed. I was happy with my ride and then they caught up when we got to the bend and I was able to run at speed.”
This is Pratt’s fourth and third consecutive voyage aboard the Prince Abama, including Tamayuz Gelding two’s final win starts again at Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar in November.
Prince Abama paid $12.60 to win. Masteroffoxhounds, Opry, and Say the word —the third of four D’Amato trainees in the race — made the top four. Evan Harlan finished ninth in field 10.
Bred by Tom Jones and owned by Michael House, Prince Abama is out of Mr. Greeley mare Abama Lady. She has five starts, all winners, from seven ponies.
Prince Abama was sold for $31,783 at Goffs Sportsman’s 2019 Annual Sale from Owenstown Stud Shipment.
The 5-year-old improves to 4-4-1 in 12 starts with a career income of $459,553.
Item: San Marcos S. (G3T)
Santa Anita . ParkSunday, February 5, 2023, Race 6
- Class III
- 1 1/4m
- grass pitch downhill
- 200,000 USD
- 4 years old and up
- 3:06 pm (local)
