Kentucky Derby jockey profile: Corey Lanerie
Corey Lanerie. (Photo by Coady Photography/Churchill Downs)
April 27th, 2021
Who is Corey Lanerie?
The shortest path around a racetrack is the inside rail, and few jockeys have capitalized on this advantage as well as Corey Lanerie.
During a career dates to 1992, the 46-year-old from Louisiana has won more than 4,800 races and $144 million in purse money. Many factors have played a role in this success, including Lanerie’s willingness to save ground and squeeze through narrow inside openings not every jockey would pursue.
Lanerie’s rail-skimming rides have been a common sight at Churchill Downs, where he has won more than 1,100 races to rank fourth among Churchill’s all-time leading jockeys. Never was Lanerie’s skill more apparent than in the 2017 Kentucky Derby, when he was tasked to ride 33-1 longshot Lookin At Lee. From the dreaded rail post, Lanerie allowed Lookin At Lee to fall more than 15 lengths off the pace, then rallied up the inside to finish second best.
Lanerie knows Churchill Downs like the back of his hand and will guide Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) runner-up Sainthood in the 2021 Kentucky Derby (G1), his fifth mount in the coveted “Run for the Roses.”
To aid our handicapping, let’s review Lanerie’s record on dirt at Churchill Downs and a handful of other tracks where Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races take place.
What are Jockey Corey Lanerie's records related to the Kentucky Derby?
Below are statistics for Lanerie's efforts at racetracks with more than two Road to the Kentucky Derby prep races, plus lifetime data at the 1 1/4-mile distance and Churchill Downs.
| Track | Starts | Wins | Places | Thirds | Win % | ITM % | ROI % | Earnings |
|---|
Aqueduct | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Churchill Downs | 1,877 | 362 | 312 | 270 | 19% | 50% | -14% | $16,808,218 |
Fair Grounds | 567 | 105 | 98 | 96 | 19% | 53% | -10% | $3,945,711 |
Gulfstream Park | 386 | 55 | 50 | 54 | 14% | 41% | -10% | $1,952,020 |
Keeneland | 633 | 80 | 101 | 94 | 13% | 43% | -23% | $4,977,431 |
Oaklawn Park | 77 | 7 | 13 | 14 | 9% | 44% | -44% | $1,080,497 |
Santa Anita | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0% | -100% | $100,000 |
Tampa Bay Downs | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 20% | -100% | $23,410 |
Turfway Park | 25 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8% | 32% | -78% | $113,852 |
Lifetime record over 1 1/4 miles on dirt:
| Starts | Wins | Places | Thirds |
| 43 | 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Win % | ITM % | ROI % | |
| 12% | 35% | -55% |
Lifetime record in the Kentucky Derby:
| Starts | Wins | Places | Thirds |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Win % | ITM % | ROI % | |
| 0% | 25% | -100% |
Lifetime stats compiled by Ed DeRosa and are through 2020.
All stats from Jan. 1, 2016 through April 20, 2021 generated by STATSMASTER, powered by TrackMaster, an Equibase company.
Lanerie at Churchill Downs
Over the last decade, no jockey has enjoyed more success at Churchill Downs than Lanerie, who boasts an 362-for-1,877 (19%) record on the main track since 2016. He has been the leading rider in 19 of the 26 meets since 2012, and 28 of Lanerie’s 61 graded stakes wins have come at Churchill.
In terms of race grades, Lanerie’s most important wins came in the 2020 Derby City Distaff (G1) and the 2015 La Troienne S. (G1). In the latter, Lanerie executed a flawless ground-saving ride aboard Molly Morgan to upset favorite Sheer Drama by three-quarters of a length.
But Lanerie’s exploits on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trails are also worthy of acclaim. He has won the Iroquois S. (G3) twice, most notably aboard 34-1 longshot Cleburne, through a perfect inside trip, to upset the 2013 renewal. And the Pocahontas S. (G2) has gone Lanerie’s way on three occasions, including when he steered Dothraki Queen up the rail to narrowly score in 2015.
Lanerie at Fair Grounds
Some of Lanerie’s best stats have been compiled over the Fair Grounds dirt, where he has won at a 19% rate over the last five years. Lanerie enjoyed a particularly strong year in 2016, when he went 3-for-12 (25%) and picked up graded stakes victories in the Rachel Alexandra S. (G2), Lecomte S. (G3), and Mineshaft H. (G3).
Lanerie also ranked among the top 10 jockeys at Fair Grounds during the 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020 seasons.
Lanerie at Gulfstream Park
Though not typically one of the leading jockeys at Gulfstream, Lanerie’s 14% win rate over the main track is solid, and he has been known to spring some major upsets through the years. In 2017, he guided the stretch-running sprinter Squadron A up the inside to win the Mr. Prospector S. (G3) at 19-1, and Lanerie repeated those tactics aboard Queen Nekia in the 2021 Royal Delta S. (G3), where he rallied up the rail to produce a 29-1 surprise.
Lanerie at Keeneland
Although Lanerie’s 13% win rate over the Keeneland dirt isn’t eye-catching, don’t let that simple number fool you. Lanerie has enjoyed rousing success at Keeneland, including the 2015 fall meet riding title and a bevy of graded stakes wins.
He has won the Ashland S. (G1) three times, including back-to-back editions in 2016 and 2017, plus the 2015 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and a handful of other important events.
Lanerie at Oaklawn Park
Lanerie tends to ride a handful of races at Oaklawn each year, with his biggest win since 2016 aboard Hawaakom in the 2018 Oaklawn H. (G2). But Lanerie’s 9% win rate is a bit light compared to some of the other tracks where he rides.
Lanerie at Santa Anita
Lanerie’s only excursion to Santa Anita over the last five years came in 2016, when he rode Daddys Lil Darling to a fourth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Lanerie at Tampa Bay Downs
From five rides over the Tampa main track since 2016, Lanerie’s only in-the-money finish was a runner-up effort aboard Willy Boi in the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore S.
Lanerie at Turfway Park
Since 2016, Lanerie has made three trips to Turfway, with mixed results. He has placed in a handful of stakes, but the victories from his 2-for-25 (8%) résumé came in maiden and allowance races.
