Back and forth battle in Del Mar jockey race continues

The battle for leading jockey at Del Mar between defending champion Flavien Prat and Del Mar first-timer Umberto Rispoli been back and forth from the beginning.

Rispoli had seven winners while Prat had one over the first three days. Prat came back to tie Rispoli and Abel Cedillo at nine over the next three sessions. Prat then went ahead by two, but Rispoli countered and took a lead by three.

After garnering three wins on Friday, while Rispoli was blanked, the two are tied entering the second half of the meeting. Prat has 24 victories from 102 mounts, Rispoli 24 from 94.

Prat has a decision to make by Tuesday over whether to head to Churchill Downs for the September 5th Kentucky Derby and get there by 11 a.m. on August 31st while meeting all COVID-19 testing protocols. Alternatively, he could stay at Del Mar with goals of defending his riding title, making it three summer championships in the last four years and taking a shot at the record for stakes wins in a season.

Prat has eight stakes victories. The record of 13 was set by Rafael Bejarano in 2012.

“The reasons for staying here this year far exceed the reasons for going to the Kentucky Derby,” Derek Lawson, Prat’s agent, said. “But the Kentucky Derby is the Super Bowl and World Series (of the sport).”