Prat To Ride All 14 Breeders' Cup Races

Of all the jockeys competing in the Breeders' Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita Park, none are busier than Flavien Prat. The Southern California-based jockey has mounts in all 14 Breeders' Cup races, the only rider this year with a full slate.

The French-born Prat, 27, who this spring won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) via disqualification on Country House, has five rides on 2-year-olds during "Future Stars Friday," followed by nine opportunities on older horses during the larger Saturday program.

Behind him by number of mounts are John Velazquez, booked to ride 13, two of whom are also-eligibles, and Irad Ortiz Jr. with 12.

The lone favorite of Prat's 14 mounts is Donna Veloce, the 3-1 morning-line choice for the 1 1/16-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1). A blowout lone-start winner against maidens at Santa Anita Sept. 28, she leaps in class while stretching out from 6 1/2 furlongs. A speedy Uncle Mo  filly, she will break from the fence in the field of nine.

Other rides Friday are Encoder, a 15-1 shot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T); Hit the Road, a 10-1 runner hung out in post 14 in the one-mile Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Presented by Coolmore America (G1T); Croughavouke, a 20-1 outsider in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T); and Storm the Court, another 20-1 longshot who adds blinkers for the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1).

On Saturday, Prat's first Breeders' Cup mount is 6-1 Bellafina in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) before continuing with 12-1 Stubbins in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) and 20-1 Blue Chipper in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). 

Blue Chipper is the first horse from South Korea to compete in a Breeders' Cup. By two-time Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Tiznow , he has won seven of his eight races, with his lone defeat coming two years ago. A winner of six in a row over distances of six furlongs to a mile, he most recently won the Sept. 8 Keeneland Korea Sprint (G1) at Seoul Racecourse. On Oct. 29, he motored around the Santa Anita main track with a three-furlong workout under Prat, timed in :34 4/5.

The Dirt Mile is one of two Breeders' Cup races Prat has won. He took the race on Battle of Midway in 2017 and scored one year earlier aboard Obviously in the Turf Sprint. Prat's Breeders' Cup record is 2-2-4 from 24 rides.

Other Saturday hopes for Prat are Vasilika (8-1, Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, G1T), Whitmore (15-1, Breeders' Cup Sprint, G1), Bowies Hero (12-1, TVG Breeders' Cup Mile, G1T), Serengeti Empress (12-1, Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff, G1), United (20-1, Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, G1T), and Higher Power (6-1, Longines Classic, G1). 

Higher Power, winner of the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar, presents Prat with his richest opportunity in the $6 million Classic. Third behind Classic rivals Mongolian Groom and McKinzie in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita after stumbling at the start, he returned to breeze six furlongs in 1:12 3/5 beneath the jockey Oct. 26 at Santa Anita.