Leparoux Equals Record Seven Wins On Single Day at Churchill Downs

Nov 11, 2008 Gary Yunt

(November 11, 2008) – Jockey Julien Leparoux rode seven winners on the Veterans Day card Tuesday at Churchill Downs to match the single-day record of Hall of Famer Pat Day who initially set the mark on June 20, 1984, when he rode all eight races on that day’s card.

Leparoux, a 25-year-old native of Senlis, France, also rode six winners from nine mounts at Churchill Downs on June 27, 2007.

Leparoux, who has won three riding titles at Churchill Downs and holds a commanding lead during the 26-day meet that concludes Nov. 29, won on the first seven mounts of his nine rides on the card.

Leparoux’s winning mounts were Diva’s Gold ($6.40) in the first, Yikes ($7.80) in the second, Troutdale ($8.40) in the third, Gerivello ($10.40) in the fourth, Variant ($11) in the fifth, Majestic Feline ($4.40) in the seventh and Runway West ($12) in the eighth.          

“I got a little lucky picking up the one mount for Calvin (Borel),” said Leparoux, who took over for Borel on Troutdale because Borel’s mother died Monday night and the rider took off his mounts. “I really wanted to win it for Calvin.

“This was just my lucky day.”

Leparoux, who now has 285 career victories at Churchill Downs where he first rode in the 2005 Fall Meet, finished eighth aboard Rocketinthegate, an 8-1 shot, in the ninth race and came home second aboard 3-1 second choice Sinister in the 10^th.

At the conclusion of Tuesday’s card, Leparoux had a 31-19 lead over Robby Albarado in the jockey standings.

In the featured $48,000 Veteran’s Day Purse, Gulf Coast Farms’ Distorted Passion rallied from off the pace under Shaun Bridgmohan to score a 2 ½-length victory over Silent Street.

Distorted Passion, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Distorted Humor, covered the seven furlongs over a fast track in 1:23.87 in winning for the second time in 10 career starts.

Distorted Passion returned mutuels of $5.80, $3.60 and $2.60 as the favorite in the field of nine. Silent Street, ridden by E.T. Baird, paid $4 and $3, while Sheltered, ridden by Robby Albarado, returned $3.60 to show.

POST-RACE QUOTES – JULIEN LEPAROUX

 “It is always special to win a race. I just got lucky today and was on some good horses.”

Q: Did the thought of winning so many races in a row enter his mind?

“Not really. I just wanted to keep riding my races. To win seven is a bit surprising. Pat Day is the only one who has done it here. I had won five races a few times and six in one day last year, but seven is the best.

            “When I first started here three years ago as an apprentice, my goal was to win 50 races a year. This is good. This is a dream come true for me.”

On his mount in the last race, Sinister, who ran second, beaten 2 ¼ lengths:

            “He ran a very good race. The winner was just the best horse.”

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