Geroux scores on Tiger Moth in Houston Ladies Classic

By Jonathan Lintner

Jockey Florent Geroux on Saturday won the world’s richest race, the $16 million Pegasus World Cup, and continued collecting checks to close the weekend Sunday with a rallying trip aboard Tiger Moth in the Grade 3, $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic.

Last of them all early, Tiger Moth didn't pass a horse until the stretch, eventually catching favored Actress inside the final furlong to win the 1 1/16-mile feature at Sam Houston Race Park. Geroux's mount, a daughter of Street Sense trained by Brad Cox, was a 17-1 shot in the field of eight.

"When we were read to make a move, I just tipped her outward, and she made her move," the jockey said.

Actress hit the wire just a neck back. It was also close for third between Martini Glass and Sandy’s Surprise, who looked like a winner at the top of the stretch before swallowed up by the late runners.

Tiger Moth return $36.60 to win.

"She's always had it in her," said Ricky Giannini. "She's always run against some of the best fillies, and she proved she can run with them. Got the right trip, and she runs good fresh. She came in off a layoff at Oaklawn and won an allowance race. She kind of had the same lead-up to this race. It worked out good."

The Houston Ladies Classic marked 6-year-old Tiger Moth's career graded stakes win, coming on the heels of last summer's Grade 3 Groupie Doll at Ellis Park. The John Gunther homebred's career record now stands at 6-5-3 in 22 starts.