Jockey Chris Landeros ‘Building For The Future’ With Agent, Brother-In-Law Brodie Wilkes

For those who say family and business don't mix, meet jockey Chris Landeros and his agent, Brodie Wilkes.

With his brother-in-law lining up his mounts, Landeros is off to one of his best starts at a meet since he moved his tack from the southwest to Kentucky in 2014. Landeros has won 11 of 31 starts at the RUNHAPPY Meet at Ellis Park. The wins tie him with Florent Geroux for second, three behind Brian Hernandez. Landeros' 35-percent strike rate and 61 percent in the money top the standings among regulars.

Landeros is married to Wilkes' sister, Shelby, their parents being trainer Ian Wilkes and Tracey Wilkes, who is heavily involved with her husband's stable. Brodie was serving as one of his dad's assistants, including overseeing the Ellis Park division last summer, with an eye on some day training on his own. Ian had another idea in the interim.

“I thought Chris just needed to settle down,” the elder Wilkes said. “He'd switched agents a few times, and that starts to hurt you sometimes. And Brodie also, he needed to learn the other aspects of the game. Learn the condition book. Understand where other people are going with horses. And get to talk to people. Understand how to communicate. That's why I pushed hard for him to do it, whether it's something he does all his life or a short time. But I think he's picked it up quite quickly.”

Brodie asked his brother-in-law over dinner one night last fall about working for him. Landeros admits being hesitant at first, including wanting to be sure Brodie was looking long-term.

Also: “Because family, you don't want to mix the two,” he said. “But then again, I ride for Ian, who's my father-in-law. Ian and I have a really good work relationship where we can separate the two, business and family time.

“The thing about Brodie and I is that we are not only family but really good friends. He puts me in my place when I need it, and I help him along the way when he needs it. We've got a good relationship as far as work goes, and friendship on the side. We're kind of growing together, and it's been fun.”

Shelby says any change is a gamble but that she's not surprised at the resulting success.

“I know Brodie works hard, and I know Chris is the kind of person who isn't going to allow him to slack,” she said. “If Brodie had decided that Chris is too much, then he'd have just moved on. But, no, he stuck with it.”

The 33-year-old Landeros already has won more races (52 through Saturday) this year than all of last year (40), with its COVID restrictions and cancelations.

It was Brodie who suggested that Landeros, who had ridden at Gulfstream Park the prior few winters, stay in Kentucky to ride at Turfway Park. That helped them get into barns such as Mark Casse, Rodolphe Brisset and Wesley Ward. Though he doesn't race in Kentucky much of the year, New York-based Jonathan Thomas proved the source of many victories at Turfway Park. Landeros also has been riding for Chad Brown since spring.

“I know Chris loves Florida,” Brodie said. “He's competitive, riding against the best jockeys in the country over the winter there. But there's just not a lot of Kentucky guys there to build your spring up.”

Said Landeros: “I didn't have the best year last year, not only because of COVID but my own business. I needed to take a step back and rebuild. This year has been very promising. We got into some outfits that last year I couldn't get in.”

Landeros said the guidance coming from a close friend made it easier to take to heart.

“Because Brodie truly wants the best for me,” he said. “Sometimes you get tunnel vision. He sees another avenue that could be better for me later on. You'll get some guys who want to be your agent, and they just see dollar signs for that meet. Brodie, it wasn't about the dollar signs in the moment. It was building for the future.”

Landeros said “the sky is the limit” for Wilkes as an agent, that Brodie is learning in his own way how to be more aggressive. He says his brother-in-law also has taught him patience.

“I have all the patience in the world on a horse,” Landeros said. “But off a horse, I have no patience for anything. I'm learning. I'm adjusting.”

Wilkes calls Landeros “definitely one of the strongest jockeys out there.” That can include being strong-willed.

“He's so aggressive and wants things to happen now, now, now,” Wilkes said. “I understand he wants to win. I look at it that we're trying to build business. It's going to take time… The way we're riding, who we're riding for, it shows that we're getting the opportunities. And he makes the most of what he's getting.”

Win or lose, the family gets together whenever schedules permit, with the Landeroses' young sons Beckham and Rory delighting in their grandparents and vice versa.

Shelby Landeros said she never had any concerns about her husband teaming with her brother.

“No,” she said. “I was just happy I finally had his agent's number.”

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Father’s Day: Churchill Horsemen Share Their Favorite Lessons From Dad

There are many second and third generation trainers and horse people on the backside of Churchill Downs. In honor of Father's Day, the Churchill media team asked several what advice or life lessons they have learned from their father:

Trainer Buff Bradley (son of late owner/breeder Fred Bradley): “One of the key things my dad taught me about horses was to have patience. When a horse needs time off, give them the time they need. In the end, the horses will reward you.”

Breeders' Cup Communications and Social Media Manager Hayley Amoss (daughter of trainer Tom Amoss): “He always tells my sister (Ashley) and me is that life is cyclical. It's not a linear path to success and you will have highs and lows. When you have the highs, take a step back and appreciate the moments with those you love, and when you're in the lows, grind it out because times will get better.”

Jockey Declan Carroll (son of assistant trainer David Carroll): “He taught me to always work hard and be positive. No matter how things may be going in life or riding, keep a positive attitude and work hard. Things are not given, they are earned. He gave me the opportunity to grow up from a very young age and learn from the start. If it wasn't for him I would be completely lost. He's there for all my ups and downs. He's my biggest critic and supporter.”

Trainer Norm Casse (son of trainer Mark Casse): “Dad always treats everyone with respect and I try to do the same. I feel like that, above many other things, is the most important thing he's taught me in life. Horse racing wise, the list would be too long.”

Trainer Greg Foley (son of late trainer Dravo Foley): “He taught me everything about being a horseman. My sister (Vickie Foley) and I grew up on the backside with him and he gave us the knowledge about horses and this sport.”

Assistant trainer Travis Foley and MagnaWave Specialist Alex Foley (sons of trainer Greg Foley) via joint text: “Of course, the easy answer is he taught us his sense of style. Jokes aside, he's showed us how to work hard, handle your business, treat people well and just try to not get too high or low depending on how the racing Gods may be treating you. He's been a great example of controlling what you can and being very consistent in everything you do.”

Jockey Chris Landeros (son of exercise rider Manny Landeros): “Throughout the ups and downs of our job, my dad always taught me to never give up. We go through many good times and bad but throughout it all he's always been consistent telling me never to give up.”

Jockey agent Jake Romans (son of trainer Dale Romans): “He's taught me so much in my life and continues to do so every day. When I first became an agent I remember him telling me to always keep an even temperament. There are many highs and lows of this sport and never get too high with the highs or too low with the lows.”

Jockey agent Brodie Wilkes (son of trainer Ian Wilkes): “He has always taught me to never stop learning. Every day that goes by you can learn something new. Then, he would always joke that the quicker I learn the sooner he can retire.”

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Ry’s The Guy Will Try To Defend His Title In Tuesday’s Isaac Murphy Marathon At Churchill

Lothenbach Stables' Ry's the Guy, a front-running 4 ¾-length winner of last year's Champions Day feature, headlines a field eight older runners entered for next Tuesday's third running of the $130,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Churchill Downs.

The 1 ½-mile main track test will go as the eighth race on Tuesday afternoon's nine-race program with a 4:22 p.m. (all times Eastern) post time. First post is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Ian Wilkes, Ry's the Guy will be making his 2021 debut in Tuesday's race. Regular rider Chris Landeros will be aboard and break from post five.

The field for the Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Burning Bright (Ricardo Santana Jr., 118 pounds), Lone Rock (Ramon Vazquez, 120), Dack Janiel's (Kendrick Carmouche, 118), Portos (Tyler Gaffalione, 118), Ry's the Guy (Landeros, 118), You're to Blame (Luis Saez, 118), Plus Que Parfait (James Graham, 118) and Jumper (Corey Lanerie, 118).

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‘Storm’ Rolling in For Jeff Ruby

A field of 11, headed by Joseph Morey Jr.'s Hush of a Storm (Creative Cause), aim to take advantage of the Kentucky Derby points on the line in Saturday's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park. Drawing the 2 hole, the William Morey trainee kicked off his career finishing eighth against $150,000 maidens on the dirt at Churchill last November, but rebounded in fine style to win with ease while trying the Tapeta for the first time going a mile a Turfway in December. A narrow winner facing optional claiming company Jan. 6, the New York bred recorded his biggest success to date when winning the 8 1/2-furlong John Battaglia Memorial S. Feb. 26. Aboard for all three wins, Santiago Gonzalez gets the call.

Hoping to turn the tables on Hush of a Storm is Battaglia third Gretzky the Great (Nyquist), the sole Grade I winner in the field.  Campaigned by Gary Barber and Eclipse Thoroughbreds, the Ontario bred was runner up in his career bow over the Woodbine turf last July before graduating in an off-turf test over that track's synthetic surface the following month before eking out a win in the grassy 6 1/2-furlong Soaring Free S. Aug. 23.  Favored for the Sept. 20 GI Summer S., the bay came home an easy 3 1/4-length winner, but failed to carry that form in his seasonal finale, tiring to sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland Nov. 6.

“After the Breeders' Cup, Gretzky had some minor ankle surgery and so, we missed some time with him,” said Mark Casse. “I knew if I was going to make a dirt start that I was going to have to race him two or three more times. So, the reason I went to the Battaglia was just simply because it's not as tiring.”

As for his Battaglia performance, Casse added, “He definitely was a little short, unfortunately. We drew the one [hole] and I told the rider, look, I want you to put him into the race. I don't like coming from the one and letting horses run by you and then they go in front of you and next thing you know, you're last. So, we asked him to run away from there. And unfortunately, he caught some pressure from a long shot that kind of ran ahead and was with him for three-quarters-of-a-mile. He put that horse away and then two more came at him, two more that had to be a lot fitter than we were, so I was proud of our horse.”

“I thought he tried and ran hard, staying back,” he concluded. “But more importantly, he's trained very well since then. And I'm excited. I'm very happy we picked up Chris Landeros to ride him. In my opinion, nobody rides Turfway Park like Chris Landeros. So, I think that's a big plus for us.”

While a top rung performance could pave the way to the Kentucky Derby starting gate, Casse indicated Canada's first jewel of the Triple Crown is far more likely for the colt.

“Is the derby a possibility? I wouldn't rule it out,” said Casse. “He would have to give us a tremendous performance though in the Jeff Ruby and then we'd have to come up with a plan on the Derby. But Queen's Plate is definitely in our crosshairs. And with him being a Canadian bred, it's a million dollars and it's such a prestigious race. We've been fortunate enough to win it a couple of times. We'd like to win it again.”

Also exiting the Battaglia, M Racing Group's Like the King (Palace Malice) makes the jump into graded company following a runner-up in the Battaglia. A runaway winner going a mile on the turf at Belterra last September, the Wesley Ward trainee finished third in an off-turf test at Keeneland a month later but found himself back in the winner's circle going a mile at Turfway Dec. 4. Drawing the inside stall this time, the colt will be ridden for the first time by Drayden Van Dyke.

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