Prat ties Del Mar stakes record aboard Raymundos Secret

Rider Flavien Prat rang the bell four times Saturday afternoon at Del Mar, the last time in the Grade 2, $150,000 John C. Mabee Stakes. In doing so, the 28-year-old Frenchman tied the Del Mar record for most stakes wins registered in a season by a jockey, 13, and forged ahead in his see-saw race for the 2020 riding title with Umberto Rispoli.

Prat’s winning ride in the Mabee came aboard Sierra Racing or Sterling Stables’ Raymundos Secret, who went wire-to-wire in the nine-furlong turf test to just hold off Rispoli aboard McClanahan, Iavarone or Parkland Thoroughbreds’ Lady Prancealot by a neck. Finishing third in the 63rd edition of the filly/mare stakes was Amerman Racing’s Catch the Eye.

Prat’s four-win day gave him 46 for the summer session in 25 days of racing. Rispoli, who was blanked on the afternoon, has 45.

“It’s a good accomplishment,” Prat said of tying a mark Rafael Bejarano set during the 2012 Del Mar season. “I’m glad for it. I’m hoping I’ve got one or two more before we’re done here, too.”

Prat collected his fourth victory in the Mabee, including the last two. He now has 57 stakes wins at Del Mar.

Raymundos Secret is a 4-year-old filly by the British sire Treasure Beach who now has won five of her seven lifetime starts. This was her initial graded stakes score. The $90,000 winner’s share of the purse pushed her bankroll up to $188,971.

Phil D’Amato trains Raymundos Secret, who paid $4.80. She covered the nine furlongs in 1:48.60.

The stakes win was the second of the meet for D’Amato, and his first in the Mabee. He now has 28 stakes wins at Del Mar.