ARCADIA, California — Flavien Prat achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the $200,000 Mathis Mile Stakes at Santa Anita on Thursday. This victory marks his 56th graded stakes win of the year, breaking the previous record of 55 held by Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey since 2003.

Reflecting on this achievement, Prat expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It is definitely worth all the work when something like this happens.” This win also brought his total stakes victories in 2024 to 81, further extending the record he set on December 7 at Aqueduct in New York, where he surpassed Irad Ortiz Jr.’s single-season record established in 2022.

In the Mathis Mile, Prat rode the 3-5 favorite, King of Gosford, engaging in a competitive stretch run that culminated in a victory against Stay Hot by a margin of one length. The horse is trained by Phil D’Amato. Celebrating in the winner’s circle, Prat was joined by his wife and two children as they celebrated the historic achievement amid cheers and signs that highlighted this significant moment.

Prat acknowledged the many people who supported him along the way, including his family, trainer Phil D’Amato, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, and winning owner Michael Nentwig. He remarked, “There couldn’t be a better place to win it than here at Santa Anita.” Additionally, he is one of the three finalists for the Eclipse Award, which recognizes the nation’s top jockey, with the winner set to be announced in January.

Last month, Prat secured the prestigious $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic aboard Sierra Leone at Del Mar. Since relocating from France to the United States in 2015, he has taken the Southern California racing scene by storm, becoming a leading jockey. Earlier this year, he made a move to New York, where he set a record for stakes wins during the summer meeting at Saratoga, amassing 18 wins, including seven Grade 1 victories.