The Good, The Bad, The Jockeys
Keeneland Fall Meet
BY: Kienan Cullen
Twitter Handle:@KIE333
Keeneland Race Course, one of the must-see tracks in all the country. From passing the castle on the
drive in, to the tailgating for as far as you can see, to the signature clock in the center of the luxuries
paddock. Your first time at Keeneland it will take a while to take everything in. The scenery is top notch and I am not talking about the horses or facilities. Let’s just say the University of Kentucky being right down the road makes it hard
to realize there are horse races going on.
Once you finally settle in after a few cocktails and pull out your program, there are going to be some key
things you’ll need to focus on if you have never bet at Keeneland. The main thing being the Jockeys.
There are very few horses like Justify, American Pharoah, or one of my favorites Wise Dan, who Jockey
John Court told me the trainer said to him before the race, all you have to do is not fall off and you will
win. So, when looking at which horse you are going to get rich on, the Jockey is a huge part of it.
Keeneland and Churchill, for the most part, have the same jockeys at both tracks with each track
alternating live races. Each jockey has his own style and preferences whether it be distance or surface.
So, let’s look at some of the top Jockeys that you will see consistently on the programs at Keeneland.
Note obviously on big stakes days west coast Jockeys will make the flight in but we will mainly be
focusing on Keeneland regulars.
Javier Castellano and Corey Lanerie- One is one of the top Jockeys in the Country, and One is the top
Jockey too Kentucky. I put these together because they are public favorites at this track. The public
Loves these guys like they did Pat Day. They could be riding a donkey in the race and the public will still
make them the betting favorite. With that being said, THEY WIN! And I hate it! If you wager based on
past performances like I do, then they absolutely kill your bets. It doesn’t matter what the horses have
done in the past or if the horse has black and white stripes. They are most likely still going to win on
them. FYI when picking between the two, always pick Javi.
Ricardo Santana- This young jockey is the most fearless jockey on the track at all times. He is young,
reckless, and doesn’t care who’s in his way. I watched him 2 races back almost put Whitmore over
the rail but then still battled and lost on the wire. If you are one of the people that don’t like Jockeys whipping horses than this is not your jockey. But if your priority is winning money and then that’s what he does. With his aggressive attitude and desire to win at all cost, this guy is a monster on sprint races. You can bank on it that if he is bobbing to the line against another horse that this jockey will empty the horse’s tank.
7 furlongs or less, Hammer this Jockey!
JULIEN LEPAROUX- he is in all caps because in 2016 LEP on turf did not lose. Didn’t matter what the odds were or what the horse was if it was on turf, he won. Now I know what you are thinking. That was 2 years ago. Well if Travers day was any sign…… HES BACK!!! This guy tends to be paired with the Ramsey owners which hasn’t happened so much recently but if you see this guy on turf over the mile distance with the Ramsey owners. Go take a second mortgage out on your house, place it all on Lep to win and go sit by the cashier’s window and wait to cash your ticket. He will either go wire to wire or sit dead last and close like a freight train. His position after a hundred yards will tell you if you will win or not. He does not sit mid-pack and win.
Florent Geroux- this guy is mister consistent. If you see a horse with great work out times and has done well in the past, then Giroux will continue that. If the horse is a donkey and never wins then it probably won’t win. Geroux is like an Alabama Quarterback. He isn’t going to win the game, but he isn’t going to lose it either. You won’t see him win on very many longshots but will normally always win on favorites.
Brian Hernandez- The King of inconsistency. This jockey can win every race on the card at all odds or not win a race on all favorites. No one ever knows what he is going to do. But if you see him win one early, then you ride him like sea biscuit because he catches fire.
James Graham/Declan Cannon- the long shot guys. These are the guys that you throw in your pick3s and 4s because they are always on longshots but tend to always sneak in a win on a bomb when you least expect it. If you see them on a favorite, it is probably because it’s a 5k claimer and the other jockeys don’t really care.
Adam Beschizza- The newcomer of the year. This guy unknown and never heard of by the Keeneland betting community came to be a star in the spring at Keeneland. And he just kept winning. At Churchill he was less than impressive but going into this fall meet at Keeneland like a golfer that always plays well at certain courses, it might just be his track. It will take a weekend to see if this is where he thrives, or the spring meet was a fluke but him like Hernandez, if he starts winning, ride him to the wheels fall off.
Calvin Borel- or as the locals call him BoRAIL because this guy only takes the rail path as he did on longshot Derby winner Mine That Bird. I thought he retired but he is still showing up in 10k maiden claimers. He was great once, but that day is long gone. Avoid this jockey in your bets like the plague.
John Court- Kentucky’s Golden Boy. He reminds me of Pat Day the way he is embraced by the fans but unlike Javier and Lanerie he isn’t bet that way. He is at the end of his carrier and only gets mounts on longshots. When he races you’ll know who the local degenerates are because they’ll be yelling JOHNNY!!! But more than not he’s will finish outside the top spot. Now don’t get me wrong I’m still throwing a couple bucks on him every race he is in because he is still John Court.