Florent Geroux | Horse Racing Free Tips

Echo Zulu Much The Best In Winning Colors

No stranger to layoffs, champion 2-year-old filly and 'TDN Rising Star' Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) made her first start of 2023 a winning one with a runaway score in Churchill's GIII Winning Colors S. On the sidelines since a game second to 2022 champion female sprinter Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, she returned to the races in this six-furlong sprint–the shortest distance she's ever raced–without missing a beat, looking every bit the 3-10 favorite.

Sharp from an outside gate, Echo Zulu went out in the search of the early lead but had to contend with an equally speedy Fire On Time (Not This Time) on her outer flank. The pair quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field while working through quick early fractions of :21.75 and :44.62. Neither mare giving an inch around the far turn, Echo Zulu found herself briefly on the back foot as Fire On Time stuck a head in front with a quarter-mile to run. But Echo Zulu responded in kind to a shake of the reins from Florent Geroux, drew alongside her rival, and went on right on past, contesting the final furlong alone and hitting the wire clear by daylight while geared down.

“I'm very grateful for the owners of this very talented filly [L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds] and [trainer] Steve Asmussen,” said the winning jockey. “She broke really well today and took herself right to the front. We had some pressure on her outside but she was traveling very comfortably the entire race.”

Pedigree Notes:

Part of the wildly successful first crop of Breeders' Cup champion and Horse of the Year Gun Runner, Echo Zulu is a daughter of GII Stonerside Forward Gal winner Letgomyecho, the dam of no fewer than eight other winners including GISW 'TDN Rising Star' and sire Echo Town (Speightstown), GSW J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), and GSP Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's Song). Letgomyecho herself is a half-sister to the dams of GIII Ohio Derby victor Dean Martini (Cairo Prince), GSW Western Smoke (Smoke Glacken) and GISP One Lucky Dane (Lookin At Lucky). Echo Zulu's youngest sibling, the now 3-year-old Doing Justice (American Pharoah), brought a final bid of $1.4 million from Northshore Bloodstock at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale.

Monday, Churchill Downs
WINNING COLORS S.-GIII, $223,250, Churchill Downs, 5-29, 4yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:08.99, ft.
1–ECHO ZULU, 118, f, 4, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Letgomyecho (GSW, $136,200), by Menifee
2nd Dam: Echo Echo Echo, by Eastern Echo
3rd Dam: Kashie West, by Sir Ivor
($300,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-L and N Racing LLC and Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Betz/J. Betz/Burns/ CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/Ramsby (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Florent Geroux. $139,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo Filly, MGISW, 9-7-1-0, $2,255,375. *1/2 to Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's Song), GSP, $253,478; J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), GSW, $377,543; and Echo Town (Speightstown), GISW, $410,020. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Fire On Time, 118, m, 5, Not This Time–Sapphire Spitfire, by Awesome Again. ($95,000 Wlg '18 KEENOV). O-Albaugh Family Stables LLC; B-Jorge S. Wagner (KY); T-Dale L. Romans. $45,000.
3–Last Leaf, 118, f, 4, Not This Time–My Miss Kallie, by Paddy O'Prado. ($7,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $10,000 Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $23,500 Ylg '20 OBSOCT). O-Monarch Stables, Inc.; B-Khalid Mishref Alkahtani (KY); T-Eddie Kenneally. $22,500.
Margins: 5 3/4, 1, HD. Odds: 0.31, 7.62, 7.55.
Also Ran: Spirit Wind, Marissa's Lady. Scratched: Scarlet Stripe.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

The post Echo Zulu Much The Best In Winning Colors appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

Bolt d’Oro Colt Slow To Go, But Breezes Home on Churchill Debut

2nd-Churchill Downs, $114,375, Msw, 5-25, 2yo, 5f, :59.04, ft, 4 lengths.
GO OTTO GO (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Court Dancer {SW, $483,751}, by War Chant) was sent away at odds just shy of 2-1 for his debut run and overcame a bit of a sluggish beginning from the inside stall to graduate by four lengths Thursday. Off about a half-step slowly, the $42,000 Keeneland November buyback turned $180,000 Fasig-Tipton July purchase was forced to steady off the heels of pacesetting second-timer Suga Steve (Goldencents), but was athletic enough to re-engage to that one's outside entering the turn. More or less on even terms as they raced around the bend, the dark bay was asked for his best in upper stretch by Florent Geroux, opened an unassailable advantage into the final eighth of a mile and proved a handy winner under only mild encouragement. Beaudacious Colton (Race Day), already a veteran of two prior starts, ran on nicely for second. New York-bred Court Dancer was purchased by Sun Valley Farm for $50,000 in foal to Connect at KEENOV in 2018 and Go Otto Go is her second winner from as many to the races. From the family of GI New York S. victress Fourstar Crook (Freud), Go Otto Go has a yearling half-sister by McKinzie that made $100,000 at KEENOV last fall and Court Dancer was most recently served by Tacitus. Sales history: $42,000 RNA Wlg '21 KEENOV; $180,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,000.
O-Three Chimneys Farm; B-Sun Valley Farm (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen.

The post Bolt d’Oro Colt Slow To Go, But Breezes Home on Churchill Debut appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

The It Girl: Monomoy Girl Shines at Spendthrift Alongside First Foal

Champion Monomoy Girl displayed many admirable traits during her four years on the racetrack, but those closest to her would be quick to say that she has never exactly been known for her easygoing nature. Independent, tenacious and self-assured would be much better adjectives to describe the GI Kentucky Oaks victress and two-time GI Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine.

“She's very sassy, that's for sure,” said Florent Geroux, who teamed up with the chestnut daughter of Tapizar for 16 of her 17 lifetime starts. “She's not really a 'people horse' who likes to hang out with people. She likes to be on her own. If you bring her some treats, she might come see you for a bit. Although if you come empty handed, it's not very good to visit her.”

Two years ago, Monomoy Girl retired to Spendthrift Farm. The operation's General Manager Ned Toffey can attest that the seven-time Grade I winner has maintained that same sure-of-herself personality.

“Ever since she came to Spendthrift, and I think during her training days as well, she has been a pretty tough mare,” he said. “She's definitely not so much of a pet as she is sort of a tough, athletic race mare. She's more settled into a routine now, but she still has her preferences. There are things she likes and things she doesn't like and you still see that fire pop up in her from time to time.”

Despite her seemingly tough nature, Monomoy Girl has revealed a softer side over the past two months. Early on the morning of Feb. 17, her first foal arrived at Spendthrift. While there is always concern for how any mare will take to a second career as a broodmare, in this case all worries were eased as soon as her Into Mischief colt took his first steps.

“She has done everything right,” said Toffey. “She's a very settled mare when she goes outside and she takes good care of her foal. Sometimes you'll run into things with race mares where you may even have to go so far as to have to put the foal on a nurse mare. That has been far from the case with Monomoy Girl.”

As for the foal, Toffey said they couldn't be happier with the new arrival.

“He's a medium-sized foal, which is really what we like to see. He's very well-made, very put together. He's got great bone and is very balanced and athletic .”

Monomoy Girl's first foal by Into Mischief | Sara Gordon

The team at Spendthrift was so enamored with this Into Mischief colt that Monomoy Girl was bred back to the farm's same supersire and she recently checked in foal.

Just as spring brings new foals to the Bluegrass each year, many of the nation's best jockeys are welcomed to Lexington every spring for the Keeneland meet. On a light day of racing, Florent Geroux stopped in to visit an old friend at Spendthrift and meet her first foal. The seasoned jockey has sat aboard countless top-class horses, but it's not every day that he gets near one of their offspring.

Geroux was blown away by how well the champion seems to have taken to retirement.

“She looks great and she has a beautiful colt,” he said after peppermints had been distributed and the mare and foal were turned out for the morning. “I think everything is going very well for her. It makes me happy to see her here and she looks amazing. Her coat is beautiful and she looks super healthy, all dappled out.”

There is no question that Geroux's top earner, Gun Runner, has gone on to do great things after the racetrack. Now he is hoping that his second-highest earning performer can share similar success.

The sky has always seemed to be the limit for Monomoy Girl, who has a knack for setting the bar throughout every step of her career.

Purchased as a yearling by Liz Crow for only $100,000 and originally campaigned by Michael Dubb and Sol Kumin's Monomoy Stables, the Brad Cox-trained filly was a stakes winner at two and her Eclipse Award-worthy sophomore season was highlighted by six graded stakes wins from seven starts, including the Kentucky Oaks and the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

While she missed her 4-year-old season due to colic and a hamstring injury, the chestnut came back the following year and claimed another Breeders' Cup Distaff-Eclipse Award double. At the end of her 5-year-old campaign, she was sent through the ring at Fasig-Tipton's Night of the Stars Sale, where she brought $9.5 million from Spendthrift Farm. MyRacehorse joined in on the partnership along with one of her original owners Sol Kumin under his Madaket Stables banner. She was a graded stakes winner again at six in the GIII Bayakoa S. before entering retirement.

Flo knows to come bearing peppermints when visiting Monomoy Girl | Sara Gordon

Reflecting on Monomoy Girl's career, Geroux said that her Kentucky Oaks victory over fellow champions Wonder Gadot and Midnight Bisou, as well as her victorious return to the Breeders' Cup in 2020, are two of his fondest memories with the talented filly.

Monomoy Girl's intelligence, he added, is another trait he will never forget from their many rides together.

“She's extremely smart,” he said. “Probably one of the smartest horses I've been around.”

While it remains to be seen if this first foal has inherited his dam's athletic abilities, there is already no question of his paternal heritage. A flashy light bay with varying degrees of white on all four legs, the colt has a prominent blaze that is unquestionably Into Mischief.

At just two months old, the youngster has already grown to love the spotlight.

“He could not be a more personable foal,” Toffey explained. “He loves people. You try to get a picture of him and he'll come over to the fence. Everything looks like a selfie with him because he just comes up and wants to get in your face.”

Toffey said that while plans can always change, their goal is to keep the foal under his existing ownership.

“I think he's one that we're likely to keep right here in house,” he explained. “There is a lot of time between now and next year when he would potentially sell as a yearling, but there is so much stallion potential there. It's a wonderful pedigree and he looks like an athlete. If he has ability that comes anywhere close to his looks and pedigree, he'd be a horse that we could hope to one day have in our stallion barn. That's really one of our big goals here at Spendthrift. We're breeding for the stud barn and the broodmare band. Obviously first comes athleticism, but if they can do the job on the track, our goal is to get them back here and stand them at stud.”

No matter where the youngster ends up some day, 'Flo' said that he would like to put his name in the hat to be the colt's future jockey.

“I would have to talk to the owners and maybe the future trainer,” he said with a smile. “Hopefully they can arrange that for me. It would be special.”

The post The It Girl: Monomoy Girl Shines at Spendthrift Alongside First Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post

No Foul Claim, Inquiry or DQ, Yet Geroux Suspended for Winning Oaklawn Ride

Jockey Florent Geroux has been suspended two days by the Oaklawn Park stewards for “careless riding while allowing his mount to cause interference multiple times” after a winning ride in the Apr. 1 $200,000 Hot Springs S. that did not involve a foul claim, posted inquiry, or a disqualification.

The penalty was handed down in a Monday ruling. Eyeing Clover (Lookin At Lucky) scored by a length as the 9-5 second choice in Saturday's eighth race for owner Ten Strike Racing and trainer Brad Cox.

Eyeing Clover, who was racing with blinkers removed for the first time in his four-race career, caught a flyer out of post two, but then got outgunned for the lead by two outside rivals. Geroux conceded the top spot to save ground, but landed in a tight spot at the fence on the heels of the horse running second. He then shifted outward and appeared to briefly affect the momentum of the two trailers in the five-horse race.

Oaklawn announcer Jim Byers described the trouble as Eyeing Clover having to “steady sharply around that club turn.” The Equibase chart stated the colt “fell back off the leader early in the first turn, [was] rank [and] fell back soon after.”

Eyeing Clover briefly bumped with a rival just prior to splitting horses entering the far turn. In upper stretch, he drifted slightly prior to straightening out approaching the short-stretch wire.

The stewards specified Saturday, Apr. 8, and Friday, Apr. 14, as the dates Geroux must sit out, adding that, “During the term of his suspension, if named to ride in designated stakes races he may ride in them, but then must serve a replacement day of suspension for each day that he rides in a designated stake.”

It is unclear if Geroux will be appealing. A phone message left with his agent, John Panagot, did not yield a return call prior to deadline for this story.

The post No Foul Claim, Inquiry or DQ, Yet Geroux Suspended for Winning Oaklawn Ride appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Source of original post