A trophy, a jacket and a gift hamper will be all to call his own this time around. Prayven Badrie has socked away the leading jockey title at Assiniboia Downs heading into the last week of the thoroughbred season. It will be the second time he has won, but Badrie had to share the honours with Antonio Whitehall the last time (2018).
Badrie galloped to the early lead this meet and held off challenges from Damario Bynoe and Whitehall as he raced wire-to-wire. With two racing days left, Badrie has won 52 races, finishing second 36 times, with 33 thirds, earning $801,000. Bynoe was a distant second with 40 victories.
“I’ve been working real hard at it,” said Badrie, 34. “(Downs trainer) Mike Nault has been giving me the opportunities (to ride good horses) and I’m thankful for that. “So far, I won seven stakes races – two with Blazing Bo (including the $50,000 Harvey Warner Manitoba Mile for Nault), two with Commandoslastdance and two with Midnight Lady (including the $50,000 Manitoba Oaks for trainer Lee Delaronde).
” Badrie was just caught at the wire aboard Blazing Bo in a photo finish where he finished third by a nose in Tuesday’s $50,000 Gold Cup. But that horse is still his favourite. “He listens to me,” he said.
Badrie has come a long way after suffering injuries that may have had others choosing a different career. “In 2018, after I won the championship, I went to Century Downs,” he recalled. “The last race, my horse broke down in front and everyb.