Geroux to Base at Oaklawn, Travel to Fair Grounds

Oaklawn Park's normal race week in 2021-22 is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But nationally prominent jockey Florent Geroux plans to ride four days weekly the next few months, according to his longtime agent, Doug Bredar.

Bredar said Geroux will be based at Oaklawn for the second consecutive season during the 66-day live season that begins Dec. 3, adding the jockey also will ride Thursdays at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, which opened its 80-day meet last Thursday. Geroux had been a Fair Grounds regular before moving his tack to Oaklawn for the 2021 meeting. Geroux, whose major client is 2020 Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox, was Oaklawn's co-fifth-leading rider with 30 victories, including six stakes.

"He feels that the three is just not enough," Bredar said. "He prefers to ride more. I think we'll travel less on the weekends. I don't have as many California horses or Florida horses that I know are going to be there. There could be some that pop up, but for the most part I think you'll see him here riding and, like, he wants to ride at Fair Grounds on Thursdays."

Cox's vast operation includes winter divisions at Oaklawn and Fair Grounds, where he has won three training titles. Cox was Oaklawn's third-leading trainer during the 2021 meeting that ended in May. 

Oaklawn traditionally opens in January, but an expanded calendar in 2021-22 includes 10 December racing dates. Bredar calls Oaklawn's holiday schedule "very kind" (there's no racing Dec. 24-26 because of Christmas), meaning Geroux figures to ride at Fair Grounds Dec. 20 and Dec. 26-27. 

"It works out well because Brad likes to use him wherever he can," Bredar said. 

Cox and Geroux teamed to win three stakes at the 2021 Oaklawn meeting: the Smarty Jones for 3-year-olds with Caddo River , the Bayakoa (G3) for older females with two-time Eclipse Award winner Monomoy Girl , and the Azeri (G2) for older females with Shedaresthedevil . Overall, Geroux amassed $2,853,818 in purse earnings and won with a robust 27% of his mounts at the meet. 

Geroux is named on 17 horses opening weekend at Oaklawn (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), including eight for Cox.

"I feel very comfortable here this year," Bredar said. "Hopefully, we'll have another good meet."

In addition to Monomoy Girl, Geroux was the regular rider of Gun Runner  , who began his 2017 Horse of the Year campaign with a runaway victory in Oaklawn's Razorback Handicap (G3). Geroux, through Tuesday, ranked seventh nationally in purse earnings this year ($17,975,991).

Bredar also represents Martin Garcia, who returns to Oaklawn after winning 20 races last season to finish eighth in the standings.