Victory Ride Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Flavien Prat Voted Jockey Of The Week After Graded Stakes Double

With no racing in Southern California last week, Flavien Prat plied his trade at Indiana Grand and Belmont Park winning two graded stakes races and earning Jockey of the Week honors for July 6 through July 11. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 active riders in the United States as well as retired and permanently disabled jockeys.

On Wednesday, Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella called on Prat to pilot Soothsay in the Grade 3 Indiana Oaks at Indiana Grand. Off as the second choice in the field of nine, Soothsay broke in the air and was last going into the far turn. But Prat stayed calm and regrouped.

“It was just a matter if she could make up the ground,” said Prat.

Soothsay and Prat began closing into contention around the far turn continuing to close to just get up to win by a neck over 40-1 shot Moon Swag in 1:44.36 for the mile and one-sixteenth.

“Flavien showed what a star he has become. He got off bad. He just sat there cool, didn't lose any more ground than he had to. Just a great ride,” said Mandella when reached by phone by Indiana Grand media.

Prat then travelled to Belmont Park to ride Souper Sensational for the first time for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in the Grade 3 Victory Ride Stakes for 3-year-olds which was part of the Stars and Stripes Day card. Souper Sensational was slowest away from the gate but demonstrated an impressive turn-of-foot late in the turn for a 3-1/4-length win in 1:15.79 for the 6-1/2 furlongs.

“She was travelling well and when I got her in the clear, she really kicked on well,” said Prat. “I bided my time and got to a nice rhythm. In the end, she really responded.”

While limited with only four mounts for the week, Prat's total purse earnings were $392,700. He out-polled fellow jockeys Daniel Centeno who won the G2 Delaware Handicap, Stewart Elliott who posted an impressive 13 wins to lead all jockeys while also capturing the leading jockey title at Lone Star, Ramon A. Vazquez who won the G3 Indiana Derby and Lindey Wade with a win percentage of 47.6 from 21 mounts.

Prat is headed back to California for Opening Day at Del Mar Friday, July 16.

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All Graded Stakes Cross Country Pick 5 Pays $1,500 To Winners

Saturday's all graded stakes Cross Country Pick 5 featuring action from Belmont and Delaware Park paid $1,500.75 for selecting all five winners for the 50-cent wager. The total pool was $197,502.

Dalika started the sequence by besting Luck Money by one length in the $150,000 Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial in Race 5 at Delaware Park in Wilmington, Del., with fillies and mares 3-years-old and up competing at 1 3/8 miles on the turf. Trained by Al Stall, Jr. and ridden by Miguel Mena, Dalika completed the course in 2:16.35 and returned $10.60 on a $2 win wager.

Three consecutive stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. comprised the heart of the wager, starting with Santa Barbara's rally for a half-length win in the Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational in Race 7. The Irish-bred shipper for trainer Aidan O'Brien rallied from seventh at the top of the stretch under internationally renowned jockey Ryan Moore, winning the 1 1/4-mile inner turf contest for sophomore fillies that was the first leg of the Turf Triple series. Santa Barbara, who notched a 2:03.76 final time, paid $4.30 as the even-money favorite in Race 7.

Prat, aboard the runner-up Con Lima in the Belmont Oaks Invitational, earned a trip to the winner's circle in the next race piloting Souper Sensational to a 3 1/4-length victory in the Grade 3 Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track in Race 8. Trained by Casse, Souper Sensational returned $13.80, posting a final time of 1:15.79 to top Ova Charged.

Belmont's other Turf Triple opener – the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational for 3-year-olds also going 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf, saw O'Brien and Moore team up again to win aboard a talented Irish-bred shipper, as Bolshoi Ballet rewarded his even-money favoritism with a 1 1/4-length score, paying $4.10. Bolshoi Ballet topped the French-bred Tokyo Gold, hitting the wire in 2:04.42.

Delaware Park bookended the action when Miss Marissa bested a six-horse field of fillies and mares 3-years-old and up to win the $400,000 Grade 2 Delaware Handicap by 1 1/4 lengths in Race 9. Miss Marissa, conditioned by James Ryerson and ridden by Daniel Centeno, notched a final time of 2:04.50, paying $11.40.

The minimum bet for the multi-track, multi-race wager is 50 cents. Wagering on the Cross Country Pick 5 is also available on track, on ADW platforms, and at simulcast facilities across the country. Every week will feature a mandatory payout of the net pool.

The Cross Country Pick 5 will continue each Saturday throughout the year. For more information, visit NYRABets.com.

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Casse Points Souper Sensational To Test Stakes At Saratoga

After acing a proverbial quiz with a 3 1/4-length win in Saturday's Grade 3 Victory Ride at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse said Souper Sensational could now be ready for a test – the $500,000 Grade 1 Longines Test on August 7 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. that is – after coming out of her effort yesterday in good order.

Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational notched her first career graded stakes score when going five-wide in the upper stretch and surging home under jockey Flavien Prat to win the 6 1/2-furlong main track sprint for 3-year-old fillies. Her win over Ova Charged earned the Curlin filly a personal-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure as she improved her career record to 3-1-1 in seven starts.

Casse had Souper Sensational on the trail for the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks earlier in her sophomore campaign, where she finished third in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Fair Grounds Oaks in March over a fast track. In her last start, she ran fourth in the Grade 2 Eight Belles in April at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., also over a fast track. The Victory Ride was the first time Souper Sensational ran over a track rated good.

“She's always shown a lot of talent,” said Casse. “We tried to get her to the Oaks and maybe in retrospect, she might just be a good sprinter type or going a mile. But the race set up for her yesterday and Flavien rode her well. She was impressive.”

In the Eight Belles, Hall of Famer John Velazquez was aboard for the seven-furlong sprint, and the veteran rider told Casse afterward he was disappointed in the effort based on Souper Sensational's ability.

“She trained really well into this race. [Assistant trainer] David Carroll, who had her for me at Louisville, thought she trained as well, if not better, than ever coming into the race, and he was right,” Casse said. “The last time she ran at Churchill, Johnny came back and was very frustrated. He said he was following a horse and a horse stopped in front of him and said we should have done a lot better than she did.

“So, we gave her a little break. She had been running hard,” Casse added. “I gave her just a little training beak. Sometimes you don't have to go home to get a break. We just didn't do anything with her for a little while. After the race at Churchill, our goal was the Test, and I figured, what's the best way to get to that race?' And yesterday was a great step.”

The G1 Longines Test for sophomore fillies is held at seven furlongs. Casse said Souper Sensational was headed upstate to Saratoga Springs to begin training for that contest next month.

“She got a 95 Beyer, which is very good for a 3-year-old filly. If you consider the wide trip too, it was impressive,” Casse said reflecting on the Victory Ride. “She's now headed to Saratoga this morning and we'll look at the Test.”

John C. Oxley's Palazzi had a troubled trip and finished sixth in Saturday's $1 million Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational at 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf. After breaking from the inside post under Tyler Gaffalione in the nine-horse field, Palazzi could not find racing room until it was too late, finishing 3 1/4 lengths behind winner Bolshoi Ballet. It was the third time in six starts Palazzi drew the inside post in a stakes race.

“Poor Palazzi, he can't catch a break,” Casse said. “He drew the one-hole again and there wasn't anything Tyler did wrong, but there was nowhere to go and there was too much to do when he finally got loose. I guess we'll go to the next big one in Saratoga.”

With the Belmont Derby Invitational serving as the first leg of the Turf Triple series, the “big one” at Saratoga will host the middle jewel of the series, with the $1 million Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational at 1 3/16 miles set for Whitney Day on August 7.

Casse's other entry in a Turf Triple race, Spanish Loveaffair, ran last-of-eight in the $700,000 Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/4 miles on the inner turf. Casse didn't pick up a next spot yet but said a shorter distance could suit the Karakontie filly better. Spanish Loveaffair is owned by Gary Barber, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Michael Hernon.

“I just think we're going to cut her back and go a mile,” Casse said. “She wants a race where there's a little more pace. The problem is the further you run, the less pace there is. She was just too rambunctious early on yesterday.”

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Souper Sensational Rallies To Win Victory Ride At Belmont

Live Oak Plantation's Souper Sensational rallied to an impressive score in Saturday's $150,000 Grade 3 Victory Ride, a 6 1/2-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y.

Trained by Hall of Famer Mark Casse and piloted by Flavien Prat, Souper Sensational was slowest away from the gate but quick when it mattered most, demonstrating a smart turn-of-foot late in the turn en route to a 3 1/4-length win.

Miss Brazil, with Jose Ortiz up, set a contested pace of :22.81 and :45.68 seconds on the main track rated good, with Ova Charged on her flank and Red Ghost outside of that one as Souper Sensational settled in fifth.

Ove Charged loomed large but Souper Sensation, rallying wide outside of rivals, found her best foot through the turn and was 1 1/2-lengths in front at the stretch call. A game Ova Charged continued to find more, but there was no reeling in the runaway Souper Sensational, who stopped the clock in 1:15.79.

Prat, aboard Souper Sensational for the first time, said the talented chestnut provided an immediate response when asked.

“She was traveling well and when I got her in the clear, she really kicked on well,” said Prat. “It didn't feel like we were going crazy fast. I thought she broke well. I bided my time and got off to a nice rhythm. In the end, she really responded.”

Ova Charged, with Luis Saez up, completed the exacta by two lengths over Inject. Red Ghost, Miss Brazil, and the previously undefeated Australasia completed the order of finish. Bella Sofia and Shop Girl were scratched.

“It was a very nice trip. She broke beautifully,” said Saez. “She never gave up and kept trying the whole way. We just got beat by a good one.”

Bred in Kentucky by Newtownanner Stud, Souper Sensational banked $82,500 in victory. She returned $13.80 for a $2 win wager.

The victory marked the first graded stakes win for Souper Sensational, who turned back in distance in the Victory Ride off a trio of Grade 2 efforts, finishing sixth in the 1 1/16-mile Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds in February, third in the 1 1/16-mile Fair Grounds Oaks in March, and fourth in the seven-furlong Eight Belles at Churchill Downs in April.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont for Closing Day of the 48-day spring/summer meet. First post on the nine-race card, featuring the $150,000 River Memories, is 12:30 p.m. Eastern.

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