Jockey Geroux takes spotlight at Arlington Million
Fans at Arlington International Racecourse who were at Arlington Million Preview Day on July 12 of 2014 saw an impressive riding feat by jockey Florent Geroux.
He won all three preview races, winning the Stars and Stripes (The Pizza Man), the Modesty (I'm Already Sexy) and the American Derby (Divine Oath).
"I thought that preview day was great," said his agent Doug Bredar, a native of Des Plaines and Maine West High School graduate. "But I knew I could do better with him."
Better it was at Saturday's International Festival of Racing.
The 30-year-old Geroux triumphed in four of the five graded stakes races, winning the Grade III American St. Leger (Da Big Hoss), Grade I Secretariat (Beach Patrol), Grade I Beverly D (Sea Calisi) and the Grade III Pucker Stakes (Noble Beauty, who was second and moved up through a disqualification of Try Your Luck who was placed third).
The native of France also won the second race with Mendota, giving him 5 wins on the day.
American St. Leger: Da Big Hoss, a 2015 claim by trainer Mike Maker, continued to make his claim as one of the top turf marathoners in the country when he won the Grade III $300,000 1-���₁₆ miles American St. Leger.
Maker acquired the 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid for $50,000 in June of 2015 for the Skychai Racing partnership. He has since won six stakes and earned more than $1.1 million.
Da Big Hoss earned a third straight win on Saturday and fourth from five starts.
"He just loves to win," Geroux said. "He always finds a way to find the wire and it doesn't matter where he is, when you ask him to go, he goes."
Da Big Hoss was one of seven starters for trainer Mike Maker in the Festival.
"His pedigree and his looks gave me the impression he would like marathon races," Maker said.
Almost a sweep: Jockey Florent Geroux' only loss in a graded stakes race on Saturday came in the Arlington Million.
While riding the 7-2 favorite World Approval, Geroux finished seventh by less than three lengths.
The 4-year-old gray gelding was trying to become the first Million winner from post No. 11.
"We had a great trip," Geroux said. "I was a little disappointed to be honest. The pace went slow and I was right there into the first turn. When they picked it up, he just spit the bit and couldn't keep up."