Prat Tests Positive for COVID-19

Jockey Flavien Prat tested positive for COVID-19 and was taken off his mounts July 12 at Del Mar, the Southern California track announced.

Prat's agent, Derek Lawson, said the rider seems asymptomatic. Prat is the fourth jockey to test positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus after riding at Los Alamitos Race Course. Luis Saez, Victor Espinoza, and Martin Garcia also tested positive. All four jockeys rode at Los Alamitos during the July 4 weekend.

KING: Jockeys Saez, Garcia, Espinoza Positive for COVID-19

"He wasn't showing any symptoms or anything of that matter, so he seems to be relatively OK," Lawson said of Prat. "Obviously, he's going to quarantine for the next 14 days (like) they want, but I'm going to get him under a doctor's care as well because I don't want this to accelerate into something bigger."

Prat rode at Del Mar July 10 and Keeneland July 11. Lawson said Del Mar asked Prat to be tested before riding there Sunday after he traveled to Kentucky. He added that Prat received a call from a staff member at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla who said the jockey tested positive, and Prat left Del Mar immediately and went home.

"It's not his fault or anybody else's fault. It all stems from Los Alamitos—that's where the fault lies because Los Alamitos did not do their job last week," Lawson said, adding that he also will get tested.

Del Mar publicity stated on Twitter that all riders and jockeys' room personnel will be tested prior to racing's resumption Friday.

The track also announced that Abel Cedillo will ride Maximum Security in the July 18 San Diego Handicap (G2). Saez is the 4-year-old colt's regular rider.