Apprentice Jara fondly remembers Juan Saez

ELMONT, N.Y. – Alexandra Jara, a five-pound apprentice who recently moved her tack to New York, was a classmate of Juan Saez at the Laffit Pincay Jockey School in Panama.

Saez died Tuesday from injuries suffered in a spill at Indiana Grand.

“He was always happy, he was always joking,” Jara said Friday morning at Belmont Park. “Sometimes I called him a clown. Last conversation I had with him I said, ‘Stop it, clown.’ ”

Jara said Saez was scheduled to ride in New York during Aqueduct’s winter meet.

Jara, 24, participated in a moment of silence the New York Racing Association held for Saez Wednesday in the Belmont winner’s circle.

“It was hard being there,” Jara said.

Jara, who had been riding in Florida, will be represented by agent Mike Monroe in New York.

◗ Apprentice rider Michael Ritvo, tied for sixth in the jockey standings at Delaware Park, will start riding at Aqueduct on Nov. 5, according to Matt Muzikar, who will be his agent. Delaware closes on Oct. 22, and Ritvo will ride at Laurel and Parx before coming to New York.

Ritvo, the son of trainer Kathy Ritvo, has ridden 72 winners from 454 mounts.