Leparoux has commanding lead in jockey standings

Whether it’s Saratoga, or Gulfstream, or Southern California, Julien Leparoux typically has been a mid-top-10 kind of jockey in recent years.

But for some reason, when it’s Keeneland, look out – Leparoux is hard to top. For the 10th time since the 2006 spring meet, Leparoux will have won or shared the riding title when the 15-day Keeneland meet ends Friday. Into the final three days, Leparoux held a commanding lead atop the standings.

“I don’t know. It happens that way,” said Leparoux. “I get good horses, I guess, a lot of support from trainers who do well here. It’s a short meet, and when you do well the first weekend like I did, you keep going. It just carries on after that, usually. Whatever it is about Keeneland, I’ll take it – definitely.”

Leparoux will ride regularly at the Churchill spring meet.

◗ Trainer Tom Amoss said he has no specific race in mind next for Rise Up, a 10 3/4-length winner Saturday of the Hilton Memorial at Charles Town.

“The good news was he broke well,” said Amoss. “The gate problems he’s had, hopefully they’re behind us.”