Luis Saez
Record at Keeneland
Career Firsts
Starters in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes
|
Year |
Horse |
Finish |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Emmanuel | 3rd |
| 2021 | Essential Quality | Won |
| 2019 | So Alive | 6th |
| 2018 | Sporting Chance | 3rd |
| 2016 | Brody's Cause | Won |
At Keeneland
Two titles as leading rider (2021 Spring, 2022 Fall).
21 wins during 2022 Fall Meet included three wins on closing day. Rode Delight to win the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine (G2) during the season.
During the 2022 Spring Meet, won the Maker's Mark Mile (G1) on Shirl's Speight and the Elkhorn (G2) on Channel Maker.
29 wins during 2021 Spring Meet include four stakes: Toyota Blue Grass (G2) on Elusive Quality, Appalachian (G2) Presented by Japan Racing Association on Jouster, Elkhorn (G2) on Say the Word and Beaumont (G3) Presented by Keeneland Select on Twenty Carat.
Won five stakes during Fall Stars Weekend on the opening three days of the 2020 Fall Meet. On Friday, he took the Darley Alcibiades on Simply Ravishing. On Saturday, he won the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) on Esential Quality and the Woodford (G2) Presented by Keeneland Select on Leinster. On Sunday, he captured the Juddmonte Spinster (G1) on Valiance and the Bourbon (G3) on Mutasaabeq.
Rode Essential Quality to win his next start, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland.
First Keeneland win came during the 2013 Fall Meet.
First Keeneland stakes win was the 2015 Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) on Grand Arch during the Fall Meet.
Rode Brody's Cause to win the 2016 Toyota Blue Grass (G1) during the Spring Meet.
Career
Triple Crown win: 2021 Belmont on Essential Quality.
Breeders' Cup win: 2020 Juvenile on Essential Quality.
North American career earnings exceed $182 million with 3,172 wins through May 26, 2022.
Posted 3,000th victory at Belmont Park when he rode Funny Joke to win the sixth race on June 5, 2022.
Rode Maximum Security to win the world's richest horse race, the $20 million Saudi Cup, in February 2020.
Recorded 2,000th win Nov 9, 2018, at Aqueduct when he won the fourth race on Y'allcomenow.
Equaled Gulfstream Park record when he rode seven winners there on Jan. 24, 2018.
Won five races at Belmont on May 31, 2013, that included back-to-back dead-heat wins.
Click here for his Equibase career record.
Background
Luis grew up on a farm in Panama and graduated from the famous Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey School there in December 2009. He won 37 races in his native country before coming to the U.S. to begin riding at Calder.