Julien Leparoux will be joining the Southern California jockey colony on a regular basis following the conclusion on the Keeneland meet Oct. 27, said agent Joe Ferrer, who will represent the 29-year-old Frenchman.
Ferrer said he will continue as agent for current Southern California riding kingpin Rafael Bejarano.
Leparoux, the Eclipse Award winner as Outstanding Apprentice Jockey in 2006, became the second jockey in history to win three Breeders’ Cup races in a single year in 2009. He again was named Eclipse Award winner, this time as Outstanding Jockey, in 2009.
Through Oct. 4, Leparoux has won 140 races from 843 mounts and ranks sixth nationally in total purse earnings with $10,296,179.
“He’s a very nice kid,” Ferrer said of Leparoux, who grew up in a racing family. “He and Bejarano are good friends, so I think it will work out.”
Leparoux, who will ride at Santa Anita Park in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Nov. 2-3, is engaged to Shea Mitchell, daughter of trainer Mike Mitchell and his wife, Denise. A Dec. 10 wedding is planned.
Julien Leparoux at Keeneland on Oct. 5, 2012.
Anne M. Eberhardt