Geroux Switches Agents From Bredar to Panagot

Florent Geroux, one of North America's leading riders, will switch agents from Doug Bredar to John Panagot following the Breeders' Cup Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland.

The agent switch concludes a long, successful association between Geroux and Bredar, a former racing secretary. In their 13 years together, Geroux advanced from relative obscurity at Hawthorne Race Course to become a top jockey in Illinois, Kentucky, and nationally. A seven-time Breeders' Cup winner, Geroux was the regular rider of 2017 Horse of the Year Gun Runner   and Monomoy Girl , an Eclipse Award winner in 2018 and 2020.

Geroux also won the 2021 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs aboard Mandaloun   upon the eventual disqualification of Medina Spirit  for a medication violation.

Bredar limited his comments related to Geroux's decision to a social media post he made Sept. 28 in which he wrote, "Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end, even when you don't expect them to.

"I will work with him through the Breeders' Cup, proud and grateful for what we accomplished as a team, grateful for the horsemen who entrusted us with such wonderful horses. Together 13 years, 42 grade 1s, and over $137 million in purse earnings including $12 million this year, currently seventh in (North America). It's been an amazing run that surpassed all of our original expectations.

"Apparently the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence."

The New York-based Panagot, currently the agent for jockey Manny Franco, said Geroux would ride at Churchill Downs before the jockey winters at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots while making trips to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas for important rides.

"I'm looking forward to it," Panagot said of representing Geroux. "I don't think we'll change much, at all, with that great business where he is now. There's no reason to change (the circuits of) what works."

In a shift from past years, Geroux spent the summer of 2022 at Del Mar in California, riding seven winners there from 92 mounts. He then returned as scheduled to the Bluegrass State for the meet at Kentucky Downs, where he had one winner from 38 rides.

Geroux entered the Sept. 28 card at Churchill Downs fourth in the standings with six winners. This past weekend, he ventured out of town for stakes opportunities, winning the $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Parx Racing Sept. 24 on Society  and the $100,000 Remington Green Stakes the following day on Price Talk  at Remington Park.

Bredar said he has no immediate plans to pick up another rider. He said he would continue to represent David Cohen through early November in Kentucky before that rider heads south to Louisiana for the Fair Grounds meet.

Bredar and his wife, Caton, a racing television broadcaster, intend to spend the winter in Florida.