Geroux, Gold Standard live in Chilukki Stakes

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An outstanding November might well continue Saturday for Florent Geroux when the 34-year-old French native accepts another live stakes mount from trainer Brad Cox in the Grade 3 Chilukki at Churchill Downs.

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Geroux will ride Gold Standard, a sharp last-out winner, in the $100,000 Chilukki, a one-turn mile that is expected to draw at least eight fillies and mares. Geroux rode two of Cox’s four Breeders’ Cup winners during the Nov. 6-7 championships at Keeneland – Aunt Pearl in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Monomoy Girl in the Distaff – and is in the thick of a three-way battle for leading rider at the Churchill fall meet with Ricardo Santana Jr. and Tyler Gaffalione.

“I’ve stuck with Brad for a long time and it’s been a snowball effect over the last few years,” Geroux said.

Gold Standard, a 4-year-old Medaglia d’Oro filly, will be seeking her first stakes victory in the 35th Chilukki, which also was expected to draw Crazy Sexy Munny, Finite, Grand Cru Classe, New Roo, Risky Mandate, Sanenus, and Whoa Nellie.

Gold Standard could vie for favoritism with Finite, exiting a runner-up finish in the Raven Run last month at Keeneland, and the comebacking Whoa Nellie, winner of the Pippin Stakes in January at Oaklawn Park.