Saez Making Strong Impression at Gulfstream

Luis Saez has made a strong impression thus far during Gulfstream’s Championship Meet, especially on Jan. 4, when he enjoyed a five-win day. The 22-year-old native of Panama has achieved his early season success all while riding with a still-heavy heart caused by the death of his 17-year-old brother, Juan, in a horrific racing accident at Indiana Grand on Oct. 14.

“I dedicate it to him,” Saez said.

Juan Saez had easily claimed his first riding title at Ellis Park just a few months after embarking on his promising career when his life was so cruelly extinguished in the accident that utterly devastated his tight-knit family.

“That was very tough. He was doing good; he was feeling good. I can’t believe when, how this happened to him. God knows why,” Luis Saez said. “I know he’s in a better place. When we leave from here, we’ll be with him again.”

Mourning his young brother’s passing has hardly diminished Saez’s focus and drive to get the very most out of his mounts during the Championship Meet, thus far winning 34 races to rank second behind three-time defending Champions Meet titlist Javier Castellano. He’s won six stakes, including back-to-back wins aboard Barbados in the $100,000 Spectacular Bid and Saturday’s $150,000 Hutcheson (G3)

“I had a good feeling that I would do good, but I didn’t know that I would start here so good. We’re going to keep working. I thank all the trainers and owners that have given me the opportunity,” Saez said.

“I’m very comfortable here. I love these people. I love riding at all the tracks, but I love coming here because this is where I started when I came from Panama. I know more of the people here. I feel really good here. I love it.”

Saez graduated from the Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey School in Panama in 2008 and won 37 races before moving on to South Florida, where he became an immediate success while collecting riding titles at Calder for the next four years. The married father of three daughters enjoyed a breakout season at Gulfstream during the 2012-2013 Championship Meet, finishing fourth in wins and purses-won, before moving on to New York and establishing himself among the riding elite on a national basis. Saez went on to win the 2013 Travers (G1), Pennsylvania Derby (G2) and the Clark Handicap (G1) and coming up a nose short of catching Mucho Macho Man in the Breeders’ Cup Classic aboard Will Take Charge. He finished fourth in wins and purses-won during the 2013-2014 Championship Meet while capturing the Besilu Stables Fountain of Youth (G2) aboard Wildcat Red and the Holy Bull (G2) aboard Cairo Prince.

Saez has won over owners and trainers with his winning smile and polite manner, as well as his acute riding skills.

“We want to be nice to everybody. In my town, everybody is like that,” said Saez, who has ridden more than 1100 winners in six years of riding in the U.S. “My mom and dad have taught me to be a good person, respect people.”

Saez has taken his 16-year-old brother, Sebastian, under his wing as the recent graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jockey School prepares for a future as a jockey.

“He’s not old enough to ride here yet. He’s learning a lot. He’ll keep working,” said Saez, who has welcomed his brother into his home. “He wants to work hard to do it.”

As his brother looks forward to following in the footsteps of his older brothers, Saez is not without goals of his own.

“I’d love to be a leading rider here, leading rider in New York, win the Kentucky Derby….and the Classic,” he said.

Source: Gulfstream Park