On a big racing weekend, it's very likely that top jockey Florent Geroux will have mounts in the major races. Travers weekend at Saratoga was no exception and Geroux proved why he is one of the premier jockeys in the country with three stakes wins including two with Grade 1 status. The panel of racing experts voted Geroux Jockey of the Week for August 21-August 27.
The award recognizes jockeys for riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1,050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.
Riding for Eclipse Award trainer Brad Cox, Geroux started the racing weekend on Friday aboard Idiomatic in the G1 Personal Ensign. With a stellar field which included 2022 three-year-old champion Nest, multiple G1 winner Clairiere and 2022 Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath, Idiomatic was overlooked in the wagering, going off as the third choice. Breaking from the rail, Idiomatic went straight to the front over a track rated as sloppy. Idiomatic continued to show the way as the field reached the top of the stretch when Nest and Secret Oath began to gain ground. But at the three-sixteenths pole, Idiomatic responded to urging from Geroux to win by four lengths in 1:49.12 for 1 1/8 miles.
“It was not going to be much pace, so I took advantage of it,” Geroux said. “Set some reasonable fractions and when she started picking up at the half-mile pole, I thought she was going to be extremely hard to catch.”
On Saturday, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen gave a leg up to Geroux on Echo Zulu in the G1 Ballerina Handicap. Despite reigning filly and mare sprint champion, Goodnight Olive in the field, Echo Zulu went off as the favorite at odds of 3-5. Echo Zulu and Goodnight Olive broke side-by-side with Echo Zulu taking command and Goodnight Olive in close pursuit. The two continued to duel around the turn with Echo Zulu edging away steadily in the final furlong to post a 2 1/2-length win in 1:20.95 for seven furlongs. Echo Zulu earned a fees-paid berth in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.
“She was picking it up nicely when I asked her to,” Geroux said. “Felt like I was in control pretty much all the way through the race. She's amazing, I'm just very grateful for the opportunity the owners and Steve Asmussen have given me to ride her.”
Geroux wrapped up the weekend on Sunday, Saratoga Showcase Day, riding Caldwell Luvs Gold for trainer Brad Cox in the Seeking the Ante Stakes. Off as the second choice in the field of six New York-bred two year-old fillies, Caldwell Luvs Gold raced in the rear of the field down the backstretch. Caldwell Luvs Gold began to pass her rivals coming into the stretch and overtook race favorite Stellamaris past the sixteenth pole to post a half-length win in 1:11.29 for six furlongs.
This week, Geroux will be riding at Kentucky Downs when their boutique 7-day meet begins Thursday.
Geroux outpolled Javier Castellano who won his seventh G1 Travers aboard Arcangelo, Manny Franco with three stakes wins including the G2 Ballston Spa, Antonio Fresu with nine wins for the week, and Tyler Gaffalione with three stakes wins including the G1 Forego.
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