Prat, Bravo will miss Sunday because of excessive crop use

Flavien Prat and Joe Bravo, two of the top jockeys racing in Southern California, will not compete Sunday while they serve one-day suspensions for excessive crop use, according to notices posted by the California Horse Racing Board.

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Prat was ruled by stewards to be one strike over the limit Saturday when he rode Giver Not a Taker to a second-place finish in the Cal Cup Derby at Santa Anita.

Bravo also was one strike over the maximum Saturday when he took Luvluv to a third-place result in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic.

Prat and Bravo also were fined $250 each.

Under rule 2280 of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, “A rider may use the crop on the hind quarters to activate and focus the horse a maximum of six times during a race. The six permitted uses shall be in increments of two or fewer strikes. The rider must allow at least two strides for the horse to respond before using the crop again.”

Prat won the Del Mar fall riding title and was the second leading jockey at Santa Anita during the winter-spring of 2021-22. His five wins are tied for second during the current Santa Anita meet.

Bravo has three wins and is tied for seventh this season at Santa Anita, where he was tied for 10th with seven victories during the fall. His 15 wins were tied for sixth during the Del Mar summer meet.