Prat Wins Three Breeders' Cup Races
Flavien Prat captured the Juvenile, Filly & Mare Sprint and Dirt Mile, earning his second Bill Shoemaker Award.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Equestrian
Reigning Eclipse Award jockey Flavien Prat won three Breeders' Cup races, aboard Hughes, Ways and Means and Further Ado. He was also named Jockey of the Week for October 26-November 1.
Why it matters
Prat's sweep underscores his standing among the sport's top riders at the season's biggest event. Hughes is also expected to be an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1).
Hughes won the Juvenile by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:42.27, Ways and Means won the Filly & Mare Sprint by 6-1/4 lengths in 1:21.76, and Further Ado won the Dirt Mile by a nose in 1:34.50. The Sprint field held 11 horses and the Juvenile field six.
The players
Flavien Prat
Prat is a French-born jockey and the reigning Eclipse Award winner who has ridden many of racing's top horses.
Bill Shoemaker Award
The Bill Shoemaker Award honors the outstanding jockey of the Breeders' Cup, named for the Hall of Fame rider Bill Shoemaker.
The details
Hughes tracked the field in second and gained the advantage entering the far turn in the Juvenile. Ways and Means broke from post position two, raced in fifth and took control at the top of the stretch in the Filly & Mare Sprint.
Timeline
Friday, November 1, 2026 (approximate): Hughes wins the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Saturday, November 2, 2026 (approximate): Ways and Means and Further Ado win Breeders' Cup races.
October 26-November 1, 2026: Prat is named Jockey of the Week.
Season Trajectory
Prat's second Bill Shoemaker Award, following his 2024 win, extends a pattern of recognition at the Breeders' Cup. The sweep positions Hughes as an early Kentucky Derby contender heading into the next season.
Bettors tracking Breeders' Cup form can note Hughes' 4-5 pre-race odds in the Juvenile and his fifth career win. Prat's three victories make him a key name for future racing wagers.
The takeaway
Prat's sweep shows how a single jockey's form at the Breeders' Cup can shape the outlook for the next major races. Readers following the sport should watch Hughes' progress toward Kentucky.
What happens next
Hughes is expected to be considered an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby (G1), with the race's timing to be set in the coming months.
Further reading
Explore more equestrian news to follow Flavien Prat and the Kentucky Derby picture.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Blood Horse Interactive.
