Geroux sweeps both stakes for 2-year-olds

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Just three weeks removed from one of the greatest victories of his career, jockey Florent Geroux won both halves of the stakes for 2-year-olds Saturday – and four races overall – on opening-day of the Kentucky Downs meet.

Geroux guided Cajun Schill to win the $300,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile some 30 minutes after Ruthless Quality won the $300,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies.

“I just put them both into the race and they took me to the winner’s circle,” said Geroux, who scored one of his greatest career wins on The Pizza Man in the Aug. 15 Arlington Million.

Cajun Schill, in from South Florida for trainer Bill Kaplan, rallied from mid-pack to win the seven-furlong Juvenile by 1 3/4 lengths over pace-setting John Q. Public, finishing in 1:24.20 over firm going. Good Intent was third and Cutacorner was fourth in a field of 10.

Cajun Schill, owned by a group headed by Teresa and David Palmer, returned $11 to win. A bay Artie Schiller colt, Cajun Schill was coming off a victory over the Gulfstream turf in his third career start.

The $2 exacta (8-1) paid $85.20, the $1 trifecta (8-1-9) returned $254.70, and the 10-cent superfecta (8-1-9-3) was worth $336.94.

One race earlier, Ruthless Quality ($26.20) finally got the measure of Moms Choice after both had surged to the front on the far turn when upsetting the Juvenile Fillies.

Ridden by Geroux and trained by Eoin Harty, Ruthless Quality was making her second career start when prevailing by a length. Moms Choice, the second choice in a full field of 12, was third, while Simple Surprise, the 2-1 favorite, faded to seventh.

Ruthless Quality, bred by Darley and racing under the Godolphin banner, finished seven furlongs in 1:24.90. An Elusive Quality filly, Ruthless Quality had easily won her Aug. 8 career debut at her home base at Arlington Park.

The $2 exacta (14-13) paid $160.80, the $1 trifecta (14-13-12) returned $372, and the 10-cent superfecta (14-13-12-6) was worth $436.64.