Soumillon tests positive for Covid, off Breeders' Cup mounts
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Star European jockey Christophe Soumillon has tested positive for the Covid-19 virus ahead of the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland and is off his two scheduled mounts Saturday.
A Breeders’ Cup media release said the positive was returned Thursday after Soumillon was tested at Keeneland the previous day. It was the only positive out of 55 tests administered to all Breeders’ Cup jockeys. Soumillon left the track following reaffirmation of the positive and has entered into isolation.
Soumillon will be replaced by Colin Keane on his top BC hope Tarnawa in the Turf. Pierre Charles Boudot will replace him on his only other mount, longshot Order of Australia, the only also-eligible in the BC Mile.
Soumillon, 39, is a native of Belgium who has been a top rider for years in France. His lone BC victory came in 2005 with Shirocco in the Turf.