Lanerie, Ramseys, Asmussen Take Churchill Titles

Blood-Horse

Jockey Corey Lanerie will win his 10th riding title at Churchill Downs when the 21-day fall meet concludes Nov. 29. Ken and Sarah Ramsey also clinched their record-extending 25th owner’s title at the Louisiville track, entering the day with nine wins.

The title will mark Lanerie’s 10th in the last 11 meets at Churchill, including eight in a row. Only Hall of Fame jockeys Pat Day (34) and Don Brumfield (12) have won more crowns beneath the Twin Spires.

“It makes me think I should do well,” Lanerie said. “If I don’t do well I’d be disappointed, because I feel like I have to do well to stay at the top. It’s hard to get there and it’s hard to stay at the top once we get there, so we just keep working hard and keep trying.”

Lanerie began Nov. 30 with 30 wins at the meet, 12 more than Robby Albarado and Ricardo Santana Jr.

“I’ve had good people behind me. My agent (Terry ‘Jaws’ Miller) has done a good job, and the owners and trainers are sticking with me and giving me great opportunities,” Lanerie said. “Jockeys don’t win races. You have to have the horses for it, and I’m getting all the good mounts and getting them across the wire first.”

With more than $8.1 million in purse earnings this year, 2015 has been Lanerie’s best in 25 years in the saddle. In addition to winning all three riding titles at Churchill, the 41-year-old also added two grade I victories to his résumé with W.D. Cubbedge’s Molly Morgan in the La Troienne on the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) undercard and with Brody’s Cause in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. He also won the fall riding title at Keeneland.

“This has been my most successful year to date, and it seems to get better and better each year,” Lanerie said. “Hopefully we have another good meet at Gulfstream Park in the winter and pick up where we left off up here next spring.”

While Lanerie and the Ramseys sealed their respective titles, honors for leading trainer were still up in the air entering Sunday, between Steve Asmussen (11 wins), Chris Richard (10), and Mike Maker (9).

Asmussen has three entered on Sunday afternoon’s card with Royal Obsession (race 8), California Coast (race 9), and Wrath of Ruthie (race 10). Richard also has three entered Sunday with Self Starter (race 9), Scadadle (race 10), and Allstar (race 12). Maker has the chance of tying with two entries of Old Mountain Lane (race 7) and La Macchina (race 9).

UPDATE: Steve Asmussen takes the trainer title with 13 wins for the meet.