Cox, Geroux charge to finish
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Keeneland’s 16-day spring meet ends Friday following a final three-day stretch during which Brad Cox and Florent Geroux appear to have an edge in securing their first Keeneland titles as top trainer and jockey, respectively.
With six wins here last week, Cox has surged ahead of two trainers also having huge meets. Following a Sunday three-bagger, Cox had 12 winners from just 23 starters, with still six more horses to run Wednesday through Friday. He is followed by Chad Brown (11 of 21, just two more to run) and Wesley Ward (10 of 34, five more).
Geroux created separation atop the jockey standings by riding 10 winners last week, including four Sunday (three for Cox). His total into Wednesday stood at 18 wins, with scheduled mounts in 18 races over the final three cards. Next in line are Jose Ortiz (14 wins, 13 more mounts), Corey Lanerie (12 wins, 19 more), and Joel Rosario (12 wins, 14 more).
Cox and Geroux both have won multiple titles elsewhere, but never at Keeneland. They will team in the May 4 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill with one of the favorites, Monomoy Girl.
Daddys Lil Darling tops Bewitch
Daddys Lil Darling figures as a heavy favorite Friday in the closing-day feature, the Grade 3, $150,000 Bewitch Stakes going 1 1/2 miles on the turf. A field of seven fillies and mares is entered in the three-turn race, with Daddys Lil Darling assigned post 5 and Mike Smith in from California to ride.
After the Friday finale, action on this circuit moves Saturday to Churchill for a Downs After Dark opener featuring the $100,000 William Walker for 3-year-old sprinters.
◗ The countdown is on for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen to become just the second trainer in North American racing history to attain the 8,000-win threshold. Through Sunday, Asmussen’s win total stood at 7,989, with his entries so far this week including runners at Keeneland, Lone Star, and Prairie Meadows. Only the late Dale Baird has run more winners (9,445) than Asmussen on this continent.
◗ Jake Romans, the son of trainer Dale Romans, has begun booking mounts for jockey Channing Hill in his first try as an agent. Romans, now 22, became well known to racing fans when he was featured prominently as a baby-faced 10-year-old on the award-winning Hennegan Brothers documentary “The First Saturday in May.”
