Flavien Prat won on the first day of the fall meeting at Del Mar, riding King of Gosford to a 2¼-length victory in the $100,000 Let It Ride Stakes on Thursday.
What happened?
Prat broke from the far outside in the field of 10 and managed to get within one path of the rail entering the first turn.
He then went three-wide around the far turn to take the lead before pulling away for the win in 1:34.76.
Why it matters for Flavien Prat
This win is significant for Prat, who had 19 wins at Del Mar in fall 2023, second to Juan Hernandez's 21.
Prat's success on the track is a testament to his skill and strategy, as he navigated the challenging outside post position.
What comes next?
After the Breeders' Cup, Prat plans to spend November on the East Coast, resuming his usual calendar and riding the early part of the Santa Anita winter season.
He has rides in 12 of the 14 Breeders' Cup races, including Sierra Leone in the Classic on Saturday.
Prat is currently second to Irad Ortiz Jr. among North American jockeys with $28.4 million in purse earnings in 2024.
The main track played differently, with horses stalking the pace winning the two one-mile races and speed prevailing in the first two sprints.
King of Gosford was one of four favorites to win on Thursday, and his victory marked a successful start to the fall meeting.
Pandora's Gift was scratched from Saturday's Filly & Mare Sprint, and Miss New York was taken out of the Distaff.
These scratches have resulted in smaller fields for the Breeders' Cup, with nine and eight horses respectively.
Prat's plans for the upcoming season will be closely watched, as he continues to make a name for himself in the horse racing world.
His ability to adapt to different tracks and strategies has made him a formidable competitor.
The Breeders' Cup will be an exciting event, with Prat competing in multiple races and vying for top honors.
The fall meeting at Del Mar has gotten off to a strong start, with Prat's win setting the tone for the rest of the season.
As the season progresses, Prat will look to build on his success and continue to make a name for himself in the horse racing world.