Flavien Prat Gets North American Career Win 2,000…and 2,001

[Wandering Eyes]

Jockey Flavien Prat, who has been riding in the United States full time since 2015, scored the 2,000th North American victory of his career Friday afternoon aboard the Brad Cox-trained Iron Max (Caravaggio) in Race 7 on the inner turf at Belmont at the Big A. Prat didn't stop there, as he also added victory 2,001 as part of a five-win day.

“Honestly, when I started riding, I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be here in New York and celebrating 2,000 wins, so I'm very grateful,” said Prat. “There's a lot of people along that way that believed in me and gave me an opportunity, so I'm very thankful. The trainers, owners, and my agent has done a great job, and my family have supported me as well.”

Prat, France's champion apprentice jockey in 2009, led the U.S. jockey standings last year with over $37 million in purse earnings. He closed 2024 with an Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey after setting the record for stakes wins in a single year with 82 and graded wins in a season with 56. Among his top mounts have been Horse of the Year Flightline and last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone. He's won the Breeders' Cup seven times, the GI Preakness Stakes in 2021 with Rombauer, and the 2019 GI Kentucky Derby with Country House.

“Being on Flightline, the whole journey was just amazing,” said Prat. “Wins in the Preakness, Kentucky Derby, obviously Sierra Leone last year was a key horse for me. But all of the horses as well. Every win is special. It's been a great journey and I try to enjoy it as much as I can. I'm fortunate to have good people around me.”

Brad Pegram, Prat's agent, added: “He's very disciplined. He's very even-keeled. He's never too high and never too low, just steady–one race at a time. He's very dedicated and extremely competitive. He loves what he does, loves the sport, and is always moving forward.”

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