Sáez dominates, clinches Churchill autumn riding title
Luis Sáez continued his dominance in Kentucky racing as he secured the leading-rider title at the Churchill Downs fall meet.
Entering Sunday’s closing-day program, he had a commanding 41 victories from 160 mounts with more than $3.6 million in purse earnings to cinch his third Churchill Downs riding title.
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At the start of Sunday’s closing day program, Sáez maintained an insurmountable 21-win lead over last year’s champion Tyler Gaffalione, who missed several days of the meet recovering from a spill.
Represented by agent Kiaran McLaughlin, Sáez had notable victories at the 26-day stand aboard First Resort in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club and Good Cheer in the Golden Rod (G2).
Sáez, 32, relocated his tack to Kentucky in 2022 and immediately found success, winning that year’s fall meet with 23 victories over a 19-day schedule. His momentum continued into the 2023 spring meet, in which he led all riders with 33 wins across 23 days.
As of Sunday jockey Luan Machado was third in the standings with 16 wins followed by Brian Hernandez Jr. with 14, Florent Géroux 13 and a three-way tie between Erik Asmussen, Rafael Bejarano and Jaime Torres with 10 each.
| Jockeys - CD fall 2024 | Starts | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Luis Sáez | 160 | 41 | 26 | 21 | $3,601,389 |
| 2. Tyler Gaffalione | 105 | 20 | 21 | 14 | $2,080,394 |
| 3. Luan Machado | 93 | 16 | 13 | 9 | $1,354,078 |
| 4. Brian Hernandez Jr. | 123 | 14 | 9 | 18 | $1,719,485 |
| 5. Florent Géroux | 83 | 13 | 14 | 9 | $1,555,459 |
| 6. Erik Asmussen | 63 | 10 | 8 | 10 | $921,561 |
| Rafael Bejarano | 90 | 10 | 8 | 11 | $771,650 |
| Jaime Torres | 73 | 10 | 9 | 4 | $753,364 |
| 9. Corey Lanerie | 85 | 9 | 13 | 12 | $995,073 |
| 10. Édgar Morales | 121 | 8 | 16 | 14 | $888,243 |
Sáez also played a key role in Godolphin clinching the leading-owner title at the fall meet. His wins aboard First Resort and Good Cheer helped the ownership powerhouse tally seven victories, three more than runner-up Calumet Farm. Heading into their final two entries Sunday, Godolphin has amassed more than $1.2 million in earnings.
The leading-trainer title will be decided Sunday with Steve Asmussen holding a slim 17-16 lead over Brad Cox. Asmussen had horses entered in races 1, 4, 5, 7 and 9, and Cox’s entries were in races 5, 8 and 10.