Back from Kentucky, Saez hoping for a big meet

Luis Saez is the only jockey without the last name Ortiz to win a Saratoga riding title in the last eight years. Though he’s been largely absent from New York this year, Saez will be back in Saratoga to try and replicate his 2021 season when the 2023 meet kicks off Thursday.

Saez won the 2021 meet with 64 wins, highlighted by a sweep of the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes aboard Essential Quality. Last year, Saez finished in a tie for second in the standings with Flavien Prat, both with 41 wins. Irad Ortiz Jr. won the 2022 title, his fourth since 2015. Jose Ortiz won the title in 2016, 2017, and 2019.

Though he’s typically been part of the New York-Florida circuit for many years, Saez spent this spring in Kentucky. He rode a meet-best 33 winners at Churchill Downs before racing there was shut down and moved to Ellis Park, where Saez won another 20 races, equaling Tyler Gaffalione.

Saez only spent four days riding at Belmont Park, where he went winless with 29 mounts. Tapit Trice, on whom he won the Grade 1 Blue Grass in April, finished third in the Belmont Stakes.

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Still, Saez’s success this winter in Florida and Kentucky has him second nationally on the year in wins (155) and purses won ($13,558,654), trailing just Irad Ortiz Jr. in those categories.

Saez is hoping the combination of business from Kentucky trainers for whom he is riding and New York trainers for whom he’s ridden in the past can equate to a successful summer.

“I feel like we’re in pretty good shape,” Saez said in between mounts Sunday at Belmont. “Todd [Pletcher] gives me an opportunity everywhere I go.”

On the first two days of the meet, Saez rides 16 of the 20 races for 12 different trainers. In Thursday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Schuylerville Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, Saez rides Saratoga Secret for D. Wayne Lukas.

“She’s a pretty good filly to ride. She’s very professional,” Saez said. “She’s not the only one. [Lukas] has a lot of good babies this year.”

Kiaran McLaughlin, Saez’s agent, said not having any repeat business from New York trainers could make this meet “a little tougher, but he’s always positive. We have plenty of business the first week or two.”

Among Saez’s stakes mounts opening week is Casa Creed in Saturday’s $175,000 Kelso Stakes.

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