Prat Replaces Jockey Agent Lawson With Pegram

Flavien Prat, the winningest rider in Southern California over the past five years, has replaced agent Derek Lawson with Brad Pegram.

Prat and Lawson teamed to win numerous riding titles in the region, including last summer's meet at Del Mar when the jockey won a record 15 stakes races. The French-born rider has been riding regularly in the United States since 2014.

In 2019, he won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs on Country House  upon the disqualification of Maximum Security  for interference. Later that year, he captured his third career Breeders' Cup race when Storm the Court scored an upset in the TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

Following last summer's Del Mar meet, Prat, 28, won the autumn meet title at Santa Anita, but slipped to second in the standings behind Abel Cedillo at Del Mar in the fall. He is currently tied with Cedillo for fourth with 19 winners during the current Santa Anita meet, trailing Juan Hernandez (26), Umberto Rispoli (25), and Joel Rosario (23).

Prat won a career-best 195 races in 2020, though the earnings from his mounts dropped to $11.9 million from $19.6 million during his Derby-winning year in 2019.

"We weren't having the best start to the new year, even though we won a grade 1 for (trainer) Chad Brown on opening weekend," Lawson said, referring to the Dec. 26 American Oaks (G1T) on Duopoly. "Mistakes were made; mistakes are always going to be made. I think that's probably the case. You know what, after seven years maybe he felt like he needed a change."

Pegram, who also represents Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, indicated he would begin working immediately for Prat, though Lawson said he is entitled to compensation from mounts he has already secured in the next two weeks.

Prat has mounts in all 17 races at Santa Anita Feb. 12-13. He rides longshot Bohemiam Bourbon in the featured Santa Monica Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Saturday.

"I am extremely excited about it," Pegram said of working for Prat. "He's a top, top rider. We'll try to move forward and try to win a lot of races."

Pegram has ties with many trainers in California, including six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, for whom his jockeys have often ridden.

Prat's hiring of Pegram, first reported by Daily Racing Form, left Drayden Van Dyke, who was previously represented by Pegram, in need of a different agent. California rules restrict jockey agents from representing more than two riders at a track.

Van Dyke has hired retired Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens as his new agent.