Leparoux sets Churchill Downs win record. November 29th, 2008
Jockey Julien Leparoux has broken a 23-year-old Churchill Downs record for wins at a Fall Meet previously held by Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day.
Leparoux rode home five winners Friday, bringing his total to 59 during the five-week meet that concludes Saturday. Day previously established the Fall Meet mark in 1985 when he rode 55 winners in a 30-day meet.
Leparoux tied Days record in the second race aboard Calabria and broke it in the next race atop Just Like William.
Leparoux later added wins in the eighth and ninth races before capping his day by piloting Einstein to victory in the $400,000 Clark Handicap.
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Leahs Secret wins Big As Top Flight.
Leahs Secret won the $150,000 Top Flight Handicap on Friday at Aqueduct so impressively that it might delay her retirement to the broodmare ranks.
The 5-year-old, who joined Todd Pletchers barn earlier this year, rallied widest to beat Slewfoundmoney by three quarters of a length in the one-mile race.
It was a big run from her, Pletcher said. She is in such good form right now, I might ask WinStar Farm for one more race.
Eibar Coa guided Leahs Secret to a second straight stakes win following the Chilukki at Churchill Downs. In the Top Flight, Leahs Secret stalked the early leaders making her move turning for home.
She did everything I asked her to, Coa said. I loved her today. She was ready to run.
The time was 1:36.40 on the fast track as Leahs Secret improved to 3-for-8 for Pletcher. Overall, she has eight wins in 25 starts.
The 5-2 favorite, Leahs Secret paid $7.60, $3.70 and $2.70 while earning $90,000 for WinStar. Slewfoundmoney, one of the early pace prompters, pressed on to return $4 and $3. Boca Grande rallied from last to get third, paying $4.20.
So Glitzy was fourth followed by Altesse, Any Limit, Shining Image and Rite Moment.