Geroux starts meet with five-bagger

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Jockey Florent Geroux was on his way to winning for the fifth time Saturday at Kentucky Downs when race-caller John Lies excitedly asked: “How do you say high five in French?”

The strict translation is haute cinq, but with yet another huge day in the books for Geroux, a 29-year-old native of France, the next question is: How do you say encore in French?

(Trick question: Encore is a French word.)

It will be difficult for Geroux to duplicate what he accomplished on opening day of the five-day Kentucky Downs meet – he won two early races, then swept three straight $300,000 stakes – but one thing’s for sure, he’ll be in there trying.

“I was not expecting to do that well, but we did think we had some good shots,” said Geroux, referring to himself and agent Doug Bredar. “Things are going very well for us right now.”

As action resumes Thursday for a second day at Kentucky Downs, Geroux continues a hectic travel schedule. He rode Sunday and Monday at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania and is named to ride all but one of the 10 races here Thursday. Based primarily in Chicago this summer, he has become a go-to jockey for trainers across North America, with his profile continuing skyward at a remarkable pace.

Starting with last fall at Kentucky Downs, when he won three stakes at the abbreviated meet, Geroux has won 24 stakes (from 97 stakes starters) while enjoying the best year of his career. He has become the regular rider of such stars as The Pizza Man, winner of the 2015 Arlington Million, and Work All Week, winner of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, while also taking graded races aboard I’m a Chatterbox, Red Rifle, Eden Prairie, Street Story, Chocolate Ride, and Midnight Cello. Now in his ninth year of riding in North America, his 2015 earnings are more than $5.2 million, ranking him No. 18 on the continent, and are on pace to soar past his career high of $5.8 million from last year.

“We’re riding better horses, which gives you confidence,” Geroux said.

The last of the Geroux winners Saturday was Tourist, who made a flashy impression in leading throughout the one-mile More Than Ready and prevailing by nearly four lengths over favored Undrafted. Tourist, trained by Bill Mott for an ownership group that includes the 4-year-old colt’s breeder, WinStar Farm, earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure in his first start since the Breeders’ Cup Mile last fall.

WinStar president Elliott Walden said Tourist will be pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile on Oct. 3 at Keeneland.

Geroux also won the twin 2-year-old races Saturday, both with well-gauged rides from just off the pace. Cajun Schill earned a 79 Beyer in winning the Kentucky Downs Juvenile, and Ruthless Quality got a 70 in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies.

◗ Even though Kentucky Downs had Saratoga and Del Mar for competition for the first time, Saturday all-sources handle was up 36 percent over the corresponding opener last year, when Belmont Park and Los Alamitos were open. Total handle was $3,640,415, compared to $2,681,471 on Sept. 6, 2014.

◗ Kentucky Downs typically runs its weekday cards on Wednesdays, but because Labor Day fell so late, the track will run Thursday for the first time anyone can remember.

“We prefer Wednesdays because there’s not as much competition in the simulcast market, but historically the Wednesday after Labor Day is weak,” track spokesman C.J. Johnsen said.

Next week, it’s back to a Wednesday (Sept. 16).