Geroux Ready for Santa Anita Return

When jockey Florent Geroux last rode at Santa Anita, he was a 20-year-old apprentice fresh to the U.S. from his native France.

That was early 2007. When Geroux makes his return trip to Santa Anita in three weeks, it will be for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

“They will see a more experienced rider,” said Geroux, who galloped horses in the morning and rode a few for trainer Patrick Biancone in 2007. “It is going to be great to go back out there with a horse that has a big chance to win.”

That horse is Work All Week, who coasted to a one-length victory in last Friday’s Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix (G3) to give Geroux his first Keeneland stakes triumph.

Geroux is not worried about facing the top sprinters in the land in the $1.5 Xpressbet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on Nov. 1.

“They talk about the California speed that can go in :21 and :43 (for the first quarter- and half-mile),” Geroux said. “If I push the button on him, he can go :42.”

Geroux already has had more success at this meet than he did in his initial time at Keeneland in the 2007 Fall Meet when his stay lasted for two races. Geroux was involved in a spill in which he broke his wrist and fractured two vertebrae, sidelining him for five months.

Through the first five days of the Fall Meet, Geroux had two winners plus a second- and third-place finish from eight mounts. He was coming off a banner Arlington meet in which he rode 82 winners with his mounts posting a meet-high $2,457,228 in earnings.

In addition to Work All Week, Geroux is scheduled to ride I’m Already Sexy for trainer Wayne Catalano in the $200,000 Goldikova (G2) going a mile on the grass at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.

According to agent Doug Bredar, Geroux will take some time off after the Breeders’ Cup before heading to New Orleans for the Fair Grounds meet.

Source: Keeneland