Florent Geroux, one of North America’s top racers, will switch dealerships from Doug Bredar to John Panagot after the Breeders’ Cup takes place Nov. Keeneland.
Agent Switch ends a long and successful relationship between Geroux and Bredar, a former racing secretary. In 13 years together, Geroux has come out of relative obscurity in Hawthorne Racecourse to become a top equestrian in Illinois, Kentucky and across the country. Seven-time Breeders’ Cup winner, Geroux is the 2017 Horse of the Year regular rider Gunman and Monomoy Girl winner of the Eclipse Award in 2018 and 2020.
Geroux also won the 2021 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs board Mandaloun when finally eliminated Medina Spirit for drug violations.
Bredar limited his comments regarding Geroux’s decision to a social media post he made on September 28, in which he wrote, “Unfortunately, all these All good things must come to an end, even if you don’t expect them.
“I will work with him through the Breeders’ Cup, proud and grateful for what we have accomplished as a team, grateful to the riders who have entrusted us with great horses. Together 13 years, 42 tier 1 times and over $137 million in earnings from most including $12 million this year, which currently ranks seventh in (North America). amazingly surpassed all of our initial expectations.
“Clearly the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence.”
New York-based Panagot, now an agent for cyclist Manny Franco, said Geroux will ride at Churchill Downs before the winter equestrian team finishes at Fair Grounds & Slots while making trips to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas for important trips.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Panagot said of representing Geroux. “I don’t think we’re going to change much, given the great business he’s in right now. There’s no point in changing (the circuit of) what works.”
In a change from previous years, Geroux spent the summer of 2022 in Del Mar in California, riding seven winners there from 92 rides. After that, he returned as planned to Bluegrass State to meet at Kentucky Downswhere he has a winner in 38 passes.
Geroux enters the September 28 card at Churchill Downs in fourth place in the standings with six winners. Last weekend, he ventured out of town in search of betting opportunities, winning $1 million Cotillion Stakes (G1) at Racing Parx September 24 on Society and $100,000 Remington Green Stakes the next day Talk about price in Remington Park.
Bredar said he has no immediate plans to pick up another rider. He said he will continue to represent David Cohen through early November in Kentucky before that driver heads south to Louisiana for the Fair Grounds meeting.
Bredar and his wife, Caton, a racing television broadcaster, plan to spend the winter in Florida.
