Flavien Prat and trainer Chad Brown won a graded stakes double at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday.
Prat rode Running Bee to victory in the Tampa Bay Stakes, setting a new turf course record.
What happened?
The Tampa Bay Stakes saw a thrilling duel between Northern Invader and Irish Aces.
But Prat and Running Bee gained on them, winning by three-quarters of a length.
The winning ride
Prat described Running Bee's performance, saying he was confident when he saw the half-mile fraction.
Brown also praised Prat's ride, saying it was brilliant.
The stakes
The win was Brown's first in the Tampa Bay Stakes, and one of four wins for the trainer-jockey duo on the day.
Prat and Brown also won the Endeavour Stakes with Saffron Moon.
The victory by Running Bee was his eighth from 16 starts, earning $90,000.
He paid $4 as the wagering favorite in the nine-horse field.
What's next?
Brown hopes to run Running Bee in a Grade I race this year.
Prat scored another win in the 10th race on the turf, an allowance, for Brown and owner Peter M. Brant.
The Brown-Prat duo introduced themselves to the crowd with a win in the fourth race with 3-year-old colt Goncora.
The festive Saturday crowd of 3,316 saw a memorable show from Prat and Brown.
Prat's win in the Tampa Bay Stakes was a notable one, with a time of 1:38.85 for the 1 1/16 miles.
This bettered the previous turf course record of 1:39.25, set two years ago by Emmanuel.
The Calumet Farm-owned horse, a son of English Channel out of Our Joy, by El Prado, raised his career bankroll to $757,443.
Northern Invader edged Irish Aces by a nose for second, with 30-1 shot Lorenz closing well for fourth.
Brown appreciated the Calumet team letting him run Running Bee at Tampa Bay Downs.
He thought it was a safe spot for the horse, and hopes for a Grade I race with his name on it this year.
The focus before the Endeavour Stakes was on Brown and Prat, who are at the top of their professions.
They delivered a memorable show for Tampa Bay Downs fans, capped by Running Bee's three-quarter-length victory.