Leparoux Wins Eclipse Award

Jan 19th, 10
Julien Leparoux, the outstanding apprentice of 2006, won 10 Grade I races in 2009 en route to his first Eclipse Award for outstanding jockey.

Hailing from Senlis, France, Leparoux swept the first two $1-million races of 2009, taking the Jan. 24 OBS Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park with It's a Bird

(Birdonthewire) and the Mar. 7 GI Santa Anita H. aboard Einstein (Brz) (Spend a

Buck). While Leparoux's GI Kentucky Derby mount General Quarters (Sky Mesa) could do no better than 10th in the Run for the Roses, the first Saturday in May was memorable for Leparoux, as he captured the GI Humana Distaff S. with Informed Decision (Monarchos), the GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic aboard Einstein and the GII Churchill Downs S. with Accredit (E Dubai). He and Forever Together (Belong to Me) repeated in the GI Diana S. at Saratoga Aug. 1 before the Frenchman

found additional Grade I success at the Spa when he guided Icon Project (Empire Maker) to an easy triumph in the Aug. 30 GI Personal Ensign S. Promoted to

He won riding titles during the Churchill Downs and Keeneland spring meets, and shared top honors with Calvin Borel at Churchill in the fall. Leparoux, who took time off to spend Christmas with his family, led the earnings standings going into the final day of the year, but lost that title when last year's Eclipse champion Garrett Gomez gained a pick-up mount in the night cap at Santa Anita.  Thoroughbred Times TODAY