Geroux, Stidham Take Fair Grounds Titles
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Photo: Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.
Gun Runner was voted Fair Grounds horse of the meet
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots closed its 144th racing season March 27 with Florent Geroux, Mike Stidham, and Midwest Thoroughbreds taking the respective jockey, trainer, and owner titles.
Geroux, coming off a career year in 2015, kept his momentum going throughout the winter, took the jockey title with 87 wins that included the Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes (both gr. II) aboard Gun Runner, as well as winning the Fair Grounds Handicap and Colonel E.R. Bradley (both gr. IIIT) with Chocolate Ride.
Stidham landed his first Fair Grounds training title, leading early in the season after a quick start and then maintaining his advantage throughout the final weeks of the season. Stidham led his charges into the winner's circle 38 times.
Richard and Karen Papiese's Midwest Thoroughbreds took home top honors as the meet's leading owners with 16 wins.
Gun Runner, campaigned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm, was named horse of the meet. The son of Candy Ride (also sire of Chocolate Ride) is pointing to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).