Lanerie clinches sixth consecutive Churchill Downs Fall Meet title

Heading into the final day of racing of the 21-day Fall Meet, perennial top rider Corey Lanerie has clinched his 15th leading rider crown at Churchill Downs in the last.

Lanerie, 43, entered Sunday with 35 victories through 20 days of racing in the Fall Meet – a 17-win cushion over second-place Ricardo Santana Jr. This is Lanerie’s 15th leading rider title in the last 17 meets at Churchill Downs.

“I could have never imagined being this successful at Churchill,” Lanerie said. “It’s such a great accomplishment and it’s been a great meet. I have to thank all of the owners and trainers for giving me an opportunity to ride their horses.”

Lanerie surpassed his 2017 Fall Meet total of 31 wins and had earnings of more than $1.3 million, which exceeded last year’s mark by more than $250,000.

Among the highlights of Lanerie’s Fall Meet was a trio of stakes victories in the $100,000 River City Handicap (Grade III) (Shining Copper), $80,000-added Bet On Sunshine Overnight Stakes (Limousine Liberal), and $200,000 Spendthrift Juvenile Filly Stallion Stakes (Sultry).   

 

Lanerie was fifth in all-time wins at Churchill Downs with 922, three behind fourth-place Don Brumfield.

Julien Leparoux entered Sunday’s closing day program in third with 16 victories through 69 starters. Brian Hernandez Jr. was in fourth-place with 15 victories including his 500th-career win beneath the Twin Spires earlier in the week to become only the 14th jockey in Churchill Downs history to accomplish that feat. Robby Albarado rounded out the top 5 in the standings with 11 victories.

There was a heated battle in the trainer’s standings to begin Sunday’s 12-race finale between Brad Cox and Steve Asmussen. Cox lead Asmussen 12-11 wins.

Cox’s Sunday entries: Spanky (Race 4); Bloom Baby (Race 5); Take That for Data (Race 7); and Secret House (Race 10).

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Asmussen Sunday entries: Faster N Blazes (Race 4); New York Central (Race 8); Flight Risk (Race 12); and La Maquina Gris (Race 12).

In the leading owner’s race there was a four-way tie for first to begin the day between Randy Patterson, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Stoneway Farm, and Walking L Thoroughbreds. There were nine other owners that still had the possibility to tie or surpass the current top four.

Racing will return to Churchill Downs in just 153 days for opening night of the 2018 Spring Meet on Saturday, April 28, 2018.