Kentucky Derby 2025 jockey Flavien Prat: Meet the rider of the horse Baeza
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Kentucky Derby 151 preview
Click below to view more coverage from the Lexington Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com previewing the 151st Kentucky Derby to be held May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville.
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It would be an exaggeration to say that Kentucky Derby horses ridden by Flavien Prat are as certain to hit the board as one is to experience death and taxes in real life.
But it’s not much of one.
In seven prior rides in the Run for the Roses, Prat has finished fourth or better six times.
On his Derby scorecard, the 32-year-old Prat, a native of Melun, France, is credited with a win, a second, three thirds and a fourth.
Only in 2018, when Solimini finished 10th, has a Prat-ridden horse finished as a Kentucky Derby also-ran.
In the 2019 Derby, Prat booted Country House home second. However, Churchill Downs stewards subsequently disqualified the on-the-track winner, Maximum Security, after ruling that the horse had interfered with the travel of two other horses during the race.
The stewards made Country House, and Prat, the designated winners of the race.
For the 2025 Kentucky Derby, Prat was originally slated to ride Neoequos. However, after trainer Bob Baffert scratched the horse Rodriguez from the race, that allowed Baeza to draw into the field and Prat switched mounts.
Trained by John Shirreffs, Baeza finished second behind Kentucky Derby favorite Journalism in his most recent race, the Santa Anita Derby on April 5, under jockey Hector Berrios.
The Kentucky Derby will be the first time Prat has raced aboard Baeza.
“Had the chance to get on him Monday,” Prat told FanDuel Racing about Baeza. “He went very well. I loved the way he was acting and moving.
“He went into the Santa Anita Derby with less experience than most of them and ran a very good race. Hopefully, he can improve from that race and run a good race in the (Kentucky) Derby.”
Here are the things you need to know about Flavien Prat:
▪ Kentucky Derby track record: In seven prior races, he has a first (by disqualification), a second, three thirds and a fourth.
▪ Other Triple Crown races: Won the 2021 Preakness Stakes aboard Rombauer. Was third last year in the Preakness on Catching Freedom. In the Belmont Stakes, has a second (Hot Rod Charlie in 2021) and a third (Sierra Leone last year).
▪ Breeders’ Cup results: Has seven wins, including in the Classic on Flightline in 2022 and last year on Sierra Leone.
▪ Career statistics: Through races of May 1, has ridden 313 times in 2025 with 85 wins for a robust winning percentage of 27%. Has earnings of $8,528,779.
For his North American career, Prat has ridden 9,030 races with 1,952 career wins, a 22% win percentage. He has earnings of $200,915,456.
▪ Worth noting: Prat was the leading rider at the just concluded Keeneland Spring Meet with 20 wins.
This story was originally published May 2, 2025 at 1:02 PM.
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