Lanerie 'back on track' with Churchill Downs riding title
Veteran jockey Corey Lanerie entered Saturday’s closing day program at Churchill Downs with a commanding 41-29 win lead over Miguel Mena in the jockey standings to clinch his 17th leading rider title at the 38-day Spring Meet.
Lanerie, 44, has won six of the last eight Spring Meet riding championships. Lanerie was poised to win the 2018 meet title when tragedy struck during mid-June with the sudden loss of his wife, Shantel.
“It’s been refreshing to get things back on track,” Lanerie said. “A lot of trainers and owners have supported me throughout my career here at Churchill Downs and we’ve been working hard every day to get back to the top.”
Lanerie, who was represented in 2018 by Richard Price, switched agents for the 2019 Spring Meet to 30-year-old CoryPrewitt. The duo plans to ride at Ellis Park over the summer.
Arguably, the biggest win of Lanerie’s Spring Meet came when Wilbo rallied in mid-stretch to narrowly prevail in the $125,000 Aristides Stakes. Along with Wilbo’s victory in the Aristides, Lanerie also won the $115,000 Champion’s Day Marathon Overnight Stakes aboard Sonneteer.
Meanwhile, Hall of Fame conditioner Steve Asmussen dominated the trainer standings at Churchill Downs’ 2019 Spring Meet with 27 victories to win his record-extending 21st leading trainer title at the Louisville track.
Asmussen, 53, entered Saturday’s card ready to eclipse 180 starts for the 38-day meet, smashing his previous record of 130 starters at the 2011 Spring Meet. The two-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer won a milestone 700th victory June 22 at Churchill Downs when 5-year-old gelding Rocky Tough rallied to win the ninth race.
Asmussen accumulated four stakes victories at the Spring Meet including a trio of Grade 1 wins on Kentucky Derby weekend with She’s a Julie ($500,000 La Troienne); Mitole ($500,000 Churchill Downs); and Mia Mischief ($500,000 Humana Distaff). Six weeks later, Mia Mischief went on to defeat Awestruck and Covfefe in the $120,000-added Roxelana Overnight Stakes.
Entering Saturday’s 12-race program, Asmussen had 703 career victories at Churchill Downs and trails all-time leader DaleRomans by 26 wins.