Price serving as agent for Lanerie

Jockey Corey Lanerie will be represented by jockey agent Richie Price when the Keeneland race meet begins April 6.

The pairing definitely was not premeditated. Price’s rider, Miguel Mena, was injured in a spill March 15 at Fair Grounds. Mena broke bones in his heel and ankle. He sees an orthopedic specialist Wednesday, after which a more detailed timeline for his return could emerge, but Price said earlier this week that Mena, who was leading rider at the meet before he got hurt, could be out of action for as long as six months.

Lanerie tragically lost his agent, Lenny Pike, over the weekend. Pike, 59, was found dead in his condominium Saturday morning in New Orleans.

Lanerie, a native Louisianan, has wintered in Florida for several seasons but returned to ride regularly at Fair Grounds this winter for the first time in five years. He has 51 winners from 331 mounts this winter, but after taking his calls Saturday, March 24, Lanerie must serve a suspension that rules him out for the remainder of the meet, which ends March 31. Lanerie can resume race-riding when Keeneland opens its spring meet.

Lanerie, 43, has been second-leading rider the last two Keeneland springs, but it’s at Churchill Downs where he’s done his best work, winning nearly every meet riding title since spring 2012.