Oscar Nominated completes Geroux's five-win day in Dueling Grounds Derby
FRANKLIN, Ky. – Florent Geroux continued his remarkable domination of Kentucky Downs when posting his fifth winner on the Sunday card with an easy romp aboard Oscar Nominated in the $346,710 Dueling Grounds Derby.
Kept in the clear and just off the pace from the outset of the 1 5/16-mile race, Oscar Nominated drew clear from the pack after straightening away and went on to a 6 1/4-length triumph. Cordon rallied for second, Path of David was third, and Madtap was fourth in a field of 11 3-year-olds.
The winner paid $8 as second choice after finishing in 2:11.45 over a firm turf course.
Oscar Nominated, claimed last fall by Ken and Sarah Ramsey for $75,000, was winning for the first time since his 23-1 upset in the Spiral Stakes in March. After running 17th in the Kentucky Derby, he has raced exclusively over grass.
“He’s been facing the best in his class,” said Maker, who also teamed with Geroux to win the Dueling Grounds Oaks on Sunday with Try Your Luck and the Kentucky Turf Cup on Saturday with Da Big Hoss.
Amid perfect late-summer weather, Oscar Nominated was among those tracking the pace set by longshot Madtap, along with Airoforce, the 7-5 favorite. With three furlongs remaining, Oscar Nominated was still on cruise control, and once Geroux let him loose, the Kitten’s Joy colt sped off, earning $200,690 to lift his bankroll to $628.095.
Geroux, enjoying his best year yet, will be the leading jockey for the second straight year at Kentucky Downs when the five-day meet ends Thursday. Before his sweep of the stakes for 3-year-olds, he won Sunday races with Scatter Gun in the second, Kitten’s Roar in the fourth, and Daddy’s Boo in the sixth.
The $2 exacta (11-1) paid $67.40, the $1 trifecta (11-1-6) returned $325.60, and the 10-cent superfecta (11-1-6-4) was worth $507.38.