Jockey Geroux extends lead at Hawthorne meet
Just when it appeared Constantino Roman was going to make his move towards the top of the rider standings, Florent Geroux said not just yet with his performance on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Hawthorne, which saw only four riders win races, led by a four-bagger from Geroux. Tim Thornton rode home the late double while Francisco Torres also continued his hot week with a riding double. Julio Felix was the only other rider to win on the day’s card.
Geroux found himself in the winner’s circle for another stakes score too as Class Break grinded out the victory in the Pat Whitworth Illinois Debutante. Looking back at the race, it was an extremely tight finish that could have been won by any of three horses. While a pair of longshots set quick early fractions, the first to move was Our Domain and Chris Emigh. While Emigh took the lead at the top of the stretch, Orlando Mojica and Diva’s Diamond ranged up to her outside to make her bid for the lead. It appeared that Diva’s Diamond was going to run on by in the stretch before she started lugging in, slowing her momentum.
While the stretch battle ensued, Geroux, who had been riding Class Break under strong urging since the half mile pole, continued to close ground late. At the wire, it was Class Break getting up to win by a neck, just ahead of the dead heated Diva’s Diamond and Our Domain. The win was the second stakes score for Class Break, easily securing her title for top two-year-old Illinois bred filly.
The four wins on Saturday moved Geroux back to a comfortable 8-win lead in the rider standings with four weeks to go.
Information for this story provided by Jim Miller of Hawthorne race Course.