Achard hoping to parlay first Grade 1 win into more opportunities

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Alex Achard toiled away in anonymity, hoping that his day would come.

Finally, it did.

Achard was still aglow with joy Sunday, less than 24 hours after reaching a milestone he couldn’t be blamed for thinking might never occur. Achard registered the first Grade 1 win of his nascent riding career Saturday, giving a perfect ride to a 5-year-old Brazilian-bred gelding named In Love in a 12-1 upset of the richest race of the Keeneland fall meet, the $750,000 Keeneland Turf Mile.

“Ahhh man,” Achard exclaimed. “I’m still feeling pretty good, yes I am, oh yes. It took a lot of work to get to this point.”

Achard, a 30-year-old native of France, did not ride Sunday at Keeneland after his lone scheduled mount was scratched as an also-eligible, but he returned briefly here to pick up his tack before heading back to Shelbyville, Ind., where he lives. Achard has spent much of the last three years riding in obscurity, mostly at Indiana Grand and Turfway Park, while picking up the occasional ride at higher-profile tracks. His move to the United States was initially inspired in part by the fabulous success being enjoyed by fellow countrymen Flavien Prat, Florent Geroux, and Julien Leparoux.

His ride on In Love for trainer Paulo Lobo could not have been any more flawless.

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Away smartly from post 3 in a field of 12, Achard quickly had his mount into a smooth rhythm. He and In Love saved ground on both turns before angling out stealthily for the drive. The opposition began to bunch together for a frantic final furlong, where In Love shot past them all while barely feeling the sting of the whip, prevailing by 1 1/2 lengths as Achard excitedly pumped his right arm just beyond the wire.

“It was just insane,” he said with a laugh.

Achard was named on 12 mounts this week, starting Monday at Indiana Grand and every day through Friday at Keeneland. He will continue to ride here, there, and anywhere, then settle in again for the winter at Turfway, where he said he will need a new agent.

“I’m thinking now there will be more interest in me,” he said, and deservedly so.