Geroux to Ride at Del Mar Summer Meet

Florent Geroux, one of the nation's top riders and fifth in the standings at the recently concluded Churchill Downs meet, will ride at Del Mar for its summer meet that begins July 22, according to agent Doug Bredar.

Geroux, 35, has been based in Kentucky from spring through fall in recent years, riding mostly at Ellis Park in the summer and traveling for mounts in stakes across the country. Before Del Mar opens, Geroux will ride at Horseshoe Indianapolis, Parx Racing, Ellis Park, and Colonial Downs, Bredar said.

Bredar said that when they arrive on the West Coast, Geroux will be "riding for almost everybody at the top of the standings." He does not anticipate a change to Geroux's relationships with eastern-based trainers. Geroux is one of dual Eclipse Award-winning trainer Brad Cox's go-to riders.

"I don't think it'll have an effect... Horses that we've been riding like Shedaresthedevil  and Mandaloun , to the best of my knowledge, we intend to continue to ride them when the opportunities arise," he said.

When asked if Geroux could ride in California full time, Bredar said they will use the summer meet as a trial run.

"This is short-term for the moment," the agent said. "We just wanted to test the waters. We've had a lot of people, a lot of horsemen out there have asked us to go in the past. We feel that now is the right time."