Luis Saez | Horse Racing Free Tips

‘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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Jesus’ Team Triumphs In Claiming Crown Jewel On His Way To The Pegasus

Prepping for a planned start in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (Grade 1) Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park, Grupo 7C Racing Stable's Jesus' Team returned to winning form in Saturday's $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel at the historic Hallandale Beach racetrack.

The Jewel headlined the 22nd edition of the Claiming Crown, a nine-stakes event that pays tribute to the claiming horses that provide the backbone of day-to-day racing programs at racetracks throughout the country.

Jesus' Team hadn't won in six starts since defeating $25,000 claimers at Gulfstream May 8, but the 3-year-old son of Tapiture earned 2-5 favoritism Saturday after finishing third in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico and the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) at Keeneland in his two most recent starts.

“I think the race was good for him because he only had the one work since the Breeders' Cup. After the Breeders' Cup he was in Ocala in a round pen and small paddock,” trainer Jose D'Angelo said. “I think he's going very well into the Pegasus World Cup.”

Ridden by Luis Saez, Jesus' Team saved ground while racing directly behind Storm Runner, who set fractions of 23.14 and 46.40 seconds for the first half-mile of the 1 1/8-mile stakes for horses that had raced at least once for a claiming price of $35,000 or lower in 2019-2020. Storm Runner, who finished off the board in the 2019 Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1), set an uncontested pace along the backstretch and around the far turn under Corey Lanerie before entering the homestretch with a clear lead. Saez eased Jesus' Team off the rail coming off the turn into the homestretch, and the overachieving colt gradually wore down the pacesetter to prevail by three quarters of a length.

“This is a very nice horse, who ran a very big race last time. I knew today would be a little tough, because he ran so big last time out, but he has such a big heart,” Saez said. “Today, I had to ride him a little hard, but he gave me that kick and always tries. He's a nice horse.”

Jesus's Team ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.30.

“I know the speed might be hard to beat, so I'm very happy with his race,” D'Angelo said.

Dale Romans-trained Storm Runner, who won a $20,000 claiming race and a starter allowance race in his only two starts this year, finished two-lengths ahead of Dack Janiel's, who had stalked the pace outside Jesus' Team.

After winning the $25,000 claiming race in May and finishing second behind graded-stakes winner Sole Volante in an allowance in June at Gulfstream, Jesus' Team finished fourth in the Haskell (G1) and second in the ungraded Pegasus at Monmouth. He went on to finish third in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga before earning G1 placings in the Preakness and Dirt Mile.

“I am very sure he's going to improve because this race worked out very good for him,” D'Angelo said. “I can give him some days off and prepare him for the Pegasus World Cup.”

D'Angelo was a champion trainer in Venezuela and saddled his first starter in the U.S. after venturing to South Florida in June 2019.

“I feel blessed,” D'Angelo said.

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Entries Drawn For Wednesday’s Opening Day Of Gulfstream Park Championship Meet

A 10-race card was drawn Friday for Wednesday's opening day of the 2020-2021 Championship Meet at Gulfstream Park.

Luis Saez, who was edged out for the riding title by Irad Ortiz Jr. by one and two wins, respectively, the past two Championship Meets, will try to get off to a fast start for the 2020-2021 meet, accepting nine mounts on Wednesday's opening-day card.

Saez, who won back-to-back titles in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, is scheduled to ride Ashaar for defending training titlist Todd Pletcher in a six-furlong optional claiming allowance Race 8.

Ashaar, formerly trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, hasn't seen action since finishing seventh in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream. Ournationonparade, a stakes winner trained by Kathy Ritvo, is scheduled to make his first start since finishing fifth in the Sept. 5 Smile Sprint (G3).

In the co-featured Race 9, a five-furlong optional claiming allowance on turf for fillies and mares, Mark Casse-trained Catch a Thrill will look to breakthrough with a victory after finishing second in all three 2020 starts, including a Belmont race between two Gulfstream races. The 4-year-old daughter of City Zip finished second in the Melody of Colors Stakes at Gulfstream last season.

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Odds And Ends: Cox Second Trainer To Win Four Cup Races, Quartet Of Jockeys, Trainers Have Breakthrough Wins

Brad Cox became the second trainer in the 37-year history of the Breeders' Cup World Championships to train four winners during a single Championships, matching the feat of Richard Mandella in 2003 at Santa Anita.

Cox won the final two races on Future Stars Friday with Aunt Pearl (IRE) in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) and the TVG Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) with Essential Quality.

On Saturday, he sent out Knicks Go, who shattered the track record in the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1), and Monomoy Girl to her second victory in the Longines Distaff (G1).

In 2003, Mandella saddled four Breeders' Cup winners under the single-day format of the Championships conducted from 1984-2006.

Authentic Becomes Sixth Kentucky Derby Winner to Take Classic
Authentic became the sixth Kentucky Derby winner to capture the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and fourth to do it in the same year. The other 3-year-olds to win the Classic are Sunday Silence (1989), Unbridled (1990) and American Pharoah (2015). Ferdinand, the 1986 Derby winner, and Alysheba, the 1987 Kentucky Derby winner, both came back the following year to win the Classic as 4-year-olds.

Irad Ortiz Jr. Wins Third Consecutive Bill Shoemaker Award
Irad Ortiz Jr., who rode two winners and added a second- and third-place finish, won the 18^th annual Bill Shoemaker Award, given to the most outstanding jockey in the 2020 Breeders' Cup World Championships hosted by Keeneland.

Ortiz's victories came on Golden Pal (Juvenile Turf Sprint-G2) and Whitmore (Sprint-G1). He finished second on Improbable in the Classic (G1) and third on Sharp Samurai in the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1).

Joel Rosario, Florent Geroux, John Velazquez and Pierre-Charles Boudot also rode two winners.

Rosario, who rode three winners in 2018 at Churchill Downs and two last year at Santa Anita, got his 2020 victories on Vequist (Juvenile Fillies-G1) and Knicks Go (Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile-G1)

Geroux's two victories came on Aunt Pearl (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1) and Monomoy Girl (Longines Distaff-G1). Velasquez won the Longines Classic (G1) on Authentic and the Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on Gamine. Boudot picked up his first two Breeders' Cup victories on Audarya (FR) in the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and the FanDuel Mile presented by PDJF (G1) on Order of Australia (IRE).

Four Jockeys Claim Initial Breeders' Cup Victories
Four riders posted their first Breeders' Cup victories over the weekend.

Pierre-Charles Boudot, who was riding in his third Breeders' Cup, picked up his first two Breeders' Cup victories on Audarya (FR) in the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1) and the FanDuel Mile presented by PDJF (G1) on Order of Australia (IRE).

Luis Saez, riding in his seventh World Championships, won the TVG Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G1) on Essential Quality.

Tom Eaves, riding in his first Breeders' Cup, won the Turf Sprint (G1) on Glass Slippers (GB).

Colin Keane, also riding in his first Breeders' Cup, won the Longines Turf (G1) on Tarnawa (IRE).

Weld, Three Other Trainers Post Initial Breeders' Cup Victories
Dermot Weld, who saddled his first two Breeders' Cup starters in 1985, broke through Saturday with his first victory in the World Championships when Tarnawa (IRE) won the Longines Turf (G1). Tarnawa represented Weld's 17^th Breeders' Cup starter. james fan

Also picking up their initial victories were Ron Moquett, Kevin Ryan and James Fanshawe.

Moquett won the Sprint (G1) with Whitmore who was running in the Sprint for the fourth consecutive year. Moquett, who saddled his first Breeders' Cup runner in 1999, has started two other horses besides Whitmore.

Ryan, who won the Turf Sprint (G1) with Glass Slippers (GB), had had only one previous Breeders' Cup starter with East (GB), who had finished second in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs in 2018.

Fanshawe won with his first Breeders' Cup starter, Audarya (FR) in the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1).

Five Favorites Won Over the Weekend
Five favorites delivered victories from the 14 Championship races during the 2020 Breeders' Cup at Keeneland with three more finishing second.

The winning favorites were Golden Pal (Juvenile Turf Sprint-G2), Aunt Pearl (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1), Gamine (Filly & Mare Sprint-G1), Knicks Go (Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile-G1) and Monomoy Girl (Longines Distaff-G1).

The highest price winner of the weekend was Order of Australia (IRE) in the FanDuel Mile presented by PDJF (G1) with a $148.40 win mutuel on a $2 bet.

Kentucky and European-Based Runners Dominate at Keeneland
There were 14 World Championship races this weekend at Keeneland and Kentucky-based runners accounted for victories in half of them.

The Kentucky-based winners were Golden Pal (Juvenile Turf Sprint-G2), Fire At Will (Juvenile Turf presented by Coolmore America-G1), Aunt Pearl (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf-G1), Essential Quality (TVG Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance-G1), Whitmore (Sprint-G1), Knicks Go (Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile-G1) and Monomoy Girl (Longines Distaff-G1).

The Europeans made a clean sweep of the four turf races Saturday starting with Glass Slippers (GB) in the Turf Sprint (G1) and followed by Audarya (FR) in the Maker's Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1), Order of Australia (IRE) in the FanDuel Mile presented by PDJF (G1) and Tarnawa (IRE) in the Longines Turf (G1).

California was represented by two winners, both trained by Bob Baffert and both track record-setters: Gamine (Filly & Mare Sprint-G1) and Authentic (Longines Classic-G1).

The other winner was Parx-based Vequist in Friday's Juvenile Fillies (G1).

Breeders' Cup World Championships Leading Jockeys (by earnings)

Jockey	Earnings
Mike Smith*	$36,634,605
John Velazquez*	$27,730,275
Frankie Dettori*	$25,751,862
Pat Day	$23,033,360
Joel Rosario*	$22,182,535
Jerry Bailey	$22,006,440
Javier Castellano*	$20,547,600
Gary Stevens	$20,299,255

*Denotes Active Jockey

Breeders' Cup World Championships Leading Jockeys (by wins)

Jockey	Wins
Mike Smith*	26
John Velazquez*	18
Jerry Bailey	15
Frankie Dettori*	14
Garrett Gomez	13
Javier Castellano*	12
Pat Day	12
Joel Rosario*	13
Irad Ortiz Jr.	11
Gary Stevens	11

*Denotes Active Jockey

Breeders' Cup World Championships Leading Trainers (by earnings)

Trainer	Earnings
Bob Baffert*	$34,985,000
Aidan O'Brien *	$26,645,590
D. Wayne Lukas *	$22,672,520
Todd Pletcher*	$21,508,030
Chad Brown*	$20,000,690
Bill Mott*	$19,936,900
Steve Asmussen*	$14,262,180

*Denotes Active Trainer

Breeders' Cup World Championships Leading Trainers (by win)

Trainer	Wins
D. Wayne Lukas*	20
Bob Baffert*	17
Chad Brown *	15
Aidan O'Brien *	13
Todd Pletcher*	11
Shug McGaughey*	9
Bill Mott*	9
Richard Mandella*	9
Sir Michael Stoute*	8
Brad Cox	7
Neil Drysdale	6
Bobby Frankel	6

*Denotes Active Trainer

Jockeys Who Won Their First Breeders' Cup World Championships race in 2020

Jockey	Horse	Race
Pierre-Charles Boudot	Audarya (FR)	Filly & Mare Turf
Tom Eaves	Glass Slippers (GB)	Turf Sprint
Colin Keane	Tarnawa (IRE)	Turf
Luis Saez	Essential Quality	Juvenile

Trainers Who Won Their First Breeders' Cup World Championships race in 2020

Trainer	Horse	Race
James Fanshawe	Audarya (FR)	Filly & Mare Turf
Ron Moquett	Whitmore	Sprint
Kevin Ryan	Glass Slippers (GB)	Turf Sprint
Dermot Weld	Tarnawa (IRE)	Turf

Future Sites

The 38^th Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California, Nov. 5-6, 2021 and return to Keeneland for the 39^threnewal Nov. 4-5, 2022.

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