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‘This Is Like Home’: Luis Saez Bags Six Wins On Claiming Crown Card

Luis Saez, a two-time Championship Meet titlist who began his U.S. career in South Florida, rode the winners of six races on Saturday's 11-race program at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla.

The 28-year-old native of Panama rode the winners of five of the nine Claiming Crown stakes, including $150,000 Jewel victor Jesus' Team. Saez won seven races in a day twice during the 2017-18 Championship Meet.

“It's been great a great day. I'm so blessed to be here. This is one of my favorite places,” Saez said. “This is like home. I'm happy to be here.”

Saez began his big day with a win aboard Fighting Force ($5.80) in Race 3, a mile maiden special weight race for 2-year-olds on turf. After a popular victory aboard Jesus' Team ($2.80) to kick off the Claiming Crown portion of Saturday's card, Saez returned to the Gulfstream winner's circle with Jakarta ($3.60), winner of the $90,000 Distaff Dash; Queens Embrace ($6.60), who captured the $95,000 Tiara; Fiya ($3), who romped to victory in the $90,000 Canterbury; and Frost or Frippery ($8), who closed out the Claiming Crown action with a narrow score in the $75,000 Iron Horse.

Saez won back-to-back Championship Meet titles in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 before finishing second behind Irad Ortiz Jr. the past two seasons.

“We came here to work hard and see what happens,” Saez said. “We'll stay focused and working hard.”

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Antonio Gallardo Rides Five Winners On Tampa Bay Downs Program

Five-time leading Tampa Bay Downs jockey Antonio Gallardo rode five winners at the Oldsmar, Fla., track for a record sixth time on Saturday, including four consecutive winners beginning with the fifth race.

Gallardo's outstanding afternoon began in the fifth race on Melancholy Blues, a filly owned by Charles D. Nielsen and trained by Jon Arnett. Melancholy Blues was claimed from the race for $16,000 by trainer Tony Wilson for new owner Happy Tenth Stable.

Gallardo next won the sixth on the turf on Domain Expertise, a filly owned by Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown. He added the seventh race aboard Mi Cleopatra and I for owner David Gruskos and trainer Jose H. Delgado.

Twice more, with feeling: Gallardo won the eighth race, the Lambholm South Race of the Week on the turf, with the colt Night Things, owned by Mt. Brilliant Farm and trained by Michael Stidham. He added the 10th and final race on the Godolphin homebred filly Frost Point, trained by Bill Mott.

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3,000 Wins And Counting For Joel Rosario: ‘Very Thankful To All The People Who Got Me To Where I Am’

Jockey Joel Rosario notched his 3,000thcareer win in Friday's first race at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, N.Y., when he piloted Hit the Woah to a 1 1/4-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight. Rosario, who posted his first career win in 2006, has compiled at least 150 victories every year since 2007.

“I knew when I was a couple away, and I thought it might take a long time to get, you know how it goes,” said Rosario, who also won Saturday's opening race at the Big A aboard Halpert in a six-furlong maiden race moved off the turf. “I'm so glad it happened and thanks to all the owners and trainer for the opportunities.”

Rosario's career has included victory totals rich in both quantity and quality, encompassing 13 wins in Breeders' Cup competition and three American Classic victories, starting with Orb in the 2013 Kentucky Derby. His victory aboard Tonalist in the 2014 Belmont Stakes thwarted California Chrome's Triple Crown bid, and Rosario picked up his second career win in the “Test of the Champion” aboard Sir Winston in 2019.

In total, Rosario has accumulated 288 graded stakes wins and 91 Grade 1 scores. The most wins he tallied in a single year was 274 in 2013, which ranked him fourth among North American riders. He twice finished second in earnings, amassing more than $21.5 million in both 2013 and 2014.

“Coming from the Dominican Republic, I'm very thankful to all the people who got me to where I am today,” Rosario said. “All the support from the owners and trainers and all the good horses they've given me, I'm very pleased and very happy to get to 3,000 wins and going forward, I'm looking forward to seeing how many more I can get.”

Besides his success in Classics, the 35-year-old native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, has thrived in the Breeders' Cup, including a win in the 2018 Classic with Accelerate. He has notched two wins each in the Mile [2016, Tourist; 2019, Uni], Juvenile Fillies [2018, Jaywalk; 2020, Vequist], Dirt Mile [2010, Dakota Phone; 2020, Knicks Go] Filly and Mare Turf Sprint [2015, Wavell Avenue; 2019, Covfefe] and Turf Sprint [2014, Bobby's Kitten; 2017, Stormy Liberal], as well as single scores in the Sprint [2009, Dancing in Silks] and Juvenile [2018, Game Winner].

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‘This Is For Everyone That Has Been Supportive’: Rocco Bowen Hits 1,000-Win Milestone

Rocco Bowen has learned that good things come to those who wait. The native of Barbados was sidelined from a riding incident in September 2018 and was patient to get back in the saddle. He accomplished that goal this past spring and made the choice to ride at Indiana Grand in Shelbyville, Ind., this season. The return has paid off in many ways for Bowen. He is now a member of an exclusive club of jockeys with 1,000 wins in their career.

Bowen had been inching toward the milestone, winning consistently until he got to his 999th victory on Nov. 4. At that point, he was close in several of his 23 races, but it was a pick-up mount in the evening's ninth race at Indiana Grand aboard the Tim Glyshaw-trained Dox Folly that gave him the milestone Wednesday, Nov. 11.

“I even changed my boots today,” said a smiling Bowen regarding the gap between wins. “This sign is going straight to my mom. Thank you to everyone. It's been such a pleasure to be here and everyone has been so welcoming. I want to thank all the agents throughout my career and all the people that have been in my corner. This is for everyone that has been supportive.”

One of the stables that has supported Bowen's return to riding at Indiana Grand is the Paul Holthus Stable. Bowen was interviewed by Paul's wife, Nancy, who serves as the paddock analyst at Indiana Grand. She noted how pleased she was to do the interview to celebrate Bowen's milestone.

“You, Nancy Holthus, have been so welcoming,” said Bowen. “You gave me the same confidence that my mom gives me and she's 1,000 miles away. You encouraged me a few weeks ago when I was down, and I so appreciate that.”

Bowen noted he has felt “at home” since arriving in Indiana.

“For some reason, this has felt like home right off the bat,” added Bowen. “Indiana Grand has been so welcoming and I'm glad to call this new place home. I hope to build my mom a house here and now we are back on track for that.”

Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing, made the winner's circle presentation to Bowen following his win aboard Dox Folly. Bowen is currently among the top 10 jockeys in his first year riding in Indiana, and earlier this season, scored his first stakes win in more than two years at the track. His milestone win was the 36th of the meet and he is less than $120,000 from reaching $1 million in purse earnings this season at Indiana Grand with five racing programs left for 2020.

In all, Bowen has accumulated more than $11 million in purses throughout his career since arriving in North America in 2007. Since that time, he has been among the top 100 jockeys nationally five times with 2017 his best finish in 34th place among all riders in North America.

Racing continues through Thursday, Nov. 19. For more information, go to www.indianagrand.com.

Indiana Grand's Eric Halstrom with Rocco Bowen

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