LEADING JOCKEY PRAT MUST TAKE SEAT
Tests positive for COVID-19 after trip to Keeneland
DEL MAR
Jockey Flavien Prat, the riding champion of Del Mar’s summer meeting two of the last three seasons, tested positive for COVID-19 Sunday upon returning from a one-day trip to Kentucky.
Prat was the fourth jockey to test positive for COVID-19 in the last week. All rode at Los Alamitos over the July 4 weekend — near the end of that track’s short, seven-day season.
Victor Espinoza tested positive Friday after learning two other riders he had been around at Los Alamitos that weekend — Luis Saez and Martin Garcia — tested positive earlier in the week.
Espinoza had voluntarily submitted to a COVID-19 test after feeling some symptoms.
Under protocols established by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, the 27year-old Prat was required to take the test Sunday morning after returning from a single-day outing at Keeneland, where he rode in six stakes races.
Del Mar is requiring all riders from outside California be tested before they can ride here — even those who regularly ride at the track. Prat competed on Friday’s season-opening card at Del Mar, picking up one win.
Prat was tested at 12:20 p.m. Sunday at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla. He was notified of the positive test 90 minutes later, shortly after arriving at Del Mar. While briefly at the track, Prat was under quarantine in an auxiliary room away from the regular jockey room. As soon as he received the test results, Prat left the track and headed home to Los Angeles.
“Flavien had no contact Sunday with another jockey,” said Josh Rubenstein, DMTC chief operating officer. “There’s no question our protocol worked.”
But Prat’s positive test following those of Espinoza, Saez and Garcia
have raised concerns about what might have happened at Los Alamitos.
On Tuesday, a county health testing team will be at Del Mar to test all the jockeys and any workers with access to the jockeys’ room for COVID-19. Rubinstein said the results will be known Wednesday.
Prat, like Espinoza, is showing no outward signs of COVID-19.
Both jockeys must quarantine for 10 days, said Rubinstein, who is awaiting further word from the county about Espinoza being eligible to ride as soon as Saturday.
“When we first learned of Del Mar’s protocols, I thought it was a bit too much,” Derek Lawson, Prat’s agent, said Sunday afternoon. “But Del Mar did a great job getting Flavien tested. Their protocol worked. They should be commended.
“It was very interesting the way they put it together. We drove into the parking lot and they had the test all set up ... two swabs, nose and throat.”
Lawson believes Prat’s test can be traced directly to Los Alamitos.
“He thinks he was exposed through a valet at Los Alamitos,” said Lawson. “He didn’t get it at Keeneland. They kept him quarantined at Keeneland in another room that was just like the one Del Mar set up.”
Dr. Ed Allred, who owns and operates Los Alamitos, told the Los Angeles Times that he doesn’t know if Los
Alamitos is the source of the outbreak.
“This is all anecdotal because we don’t know,” Allred said. “We had some riders come in from back East that had a few mounts. We take temperatures before every race as part of our protocols. We’ve given the Orange County Health Department all the information we have. They’ve been telling us how to handle things.”
In less than a week, Del Mar has lost to positive COVID-19 tests the hottest
rider in the west (Prat), the popular Triple Crown-winning Espinoza and the rider (Saez) originally targeted to ride favored Maximum Security in Saturday’s $150,000 Grade II San Diego Handicap.
“Unfortunately, this is the situation all over the country and the world,” said Lawson. “Del Mar is just a part of it.”
Added Del Mar CEO Joe Harper: “We will continue to be vigilant to ensure the safety of the people who work here and live in our community.”
Prat was scheduled to ride in six races Sunday. Only one of those horses ended up winning.
Big betting numbers
Rubinstein said aside from the Prat and Espinoza COVID-19 cases, he was “overall very pleased” with the first weekend of a meet that is being run without fans.
“The racing has been safe and competitive and the handle numbers are really strong,” said Rubinstein.
The average daily handle for the first three days was
$17,079,886. When compared to the 2019 total of $14,459,297 for opening day and the first Saturday and Sunday, the increase is 18.1 percent. A total of $51,239,658 was wagered on the first 30 races of the nineweek summer season.
“We really do well after the racing ends in the East,” said Rubinstein. “The nationwide numbers are very positive.
“And our daily health screenings, procedures and protocols are working. We’ll make a very few minor tweaks, but in the big picture, things are going very well.
“Everyone is taking the situation seriously, wearing facial coverings, social distancing and hand washing. We’re also so fortunate to have expert medical guidance from Scripps Health. Their chief medical officer, Dr. Ghazala Sharieff, has been invaluable.”
Rispoli remains hot
Umberto Rispoli won the featured $86,270 Osunitas Stakes aboard 8-1 long shot Cordiality ($18.40), giving the Italian jockey two wins
Sunday and seven for his first weekend at Del Mar.
“I’m a lucky guy right now,” said Rispoli. “This track suits my abilities, And, most of all, I’m getting to ride good horses trained by good horsemen. That’s what it is all about.”
Cordiality set a slow pace and held off 6-5 favorite Super Patriot by a length in 1:33.61 for a mile on turf.
“She was much fitter today and she loves Del Mar,” said trainer Tim Yakteen, who is pointing the 7-yearold toward the Solana Beach Stakes on Aug. 15.
“I had simple instructions,” said Rispoli. “Take her out early, slow it down as much as you can until the three-eighths pole, then go for it. The course was fast and played well for her.”
New rider for ’Security
Trainer Bob Baffert named Abel Cedillo to replace Saez aboard Maximum Security in the San Diego. A field of seven was entered for the 11⁄16-mile race, including 2019 Pacific Classic winner Higher Power.