Mid-South notes: Saenz quietly goes about the business of winning

Diego Saenz has quietly become one of the winningest jockeys based in Louisiana. He ranks 18th among all riders in North America in wins this year, with 185, and is the leading rider at Delta Downs in Vinton. Saenz in September wrapped up his fourth title at Evangeline Downs in Opelousas.

Saenz, 35, is a native of Chihuahua, Mexico, who as a child moved with his family to the East Texas town of Whitehouse. Some of his initial exposure to the Thoroughbred industry came by working at the nearby Oak Leaf Training Center.

“I did everything, groom, gallop,” said Saenz, who did not have a racing background but grew up with horses.

Saenz eventually launched his riding career at Retama Park near San Antonio in 2004. He said he was later contacted by an agent who encouraged him to come to Louisiana. During his time here he has earned the business of a host of high-percentage stables, including trainers Pat Devereux Jr., Karl Broberg, and Sam Breaux.

Saenz’s list of stakes winners in the state include Little Ms Protocol, one of the top fillies in Louisiana; Brethren, with whom he won this year’s $125,000 Evangeline Mile; and Productive Envoy, with whom he won the $250,000 Legacy at Delta in 2009 for Oak Leaf.

During the current meet at Delta, where Saenz won the title during the 2009-2010 season, he is dominating. Saenz has won 46 races from 175 mounts, 19 more wins than his closest pursuer in the standings. Saenz’s mounts at the meet went over $1 million in earnings last week. Overall, the rider is a career winner of 1,129 races from 6,460 starters, for mount earnings of $21,221,627.

Young excels with Beau Ravelle

Scott Young’s decision to retire from riding and take up training had nothing to do with injuries. It was about opportunities, and he has made the most of them this meet at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. Young, 28, has won 16 races from 45 starters to rank ninth in the trainer standings, and during the season has developed the notable 2-year-old fillies Beau Ravelle and Honey’s Ryan.

“The only reason I’m not riding is that I was able to start training better horses than I was getting to ride,” he said.

Young, who added he was tall for a rider, retired from the saddle in 2011. He won 343 races from 3,844 starts for mount earnings of $4 million, with his first win coming at Blue Ribbon Downs in 2004.

Young’s first win as a trainer came at Will Rogers in 2012, but his breakout season has been this meet at Remington. His stable star Beau Ravelle has dominated in both of her starts, a maiden and an allowance, with Beyer Speed Figures in the 80s. Honey’s Ryan, meanwhile, won the $50,000 E.L. Gaylord at Remington in October. Young said the fillies are currently turned out in Ocala, Fla.

“They’re both getting a breather where it’s nice and warm,” he said. “It looks like they’ll get a couple of months off.”

Young’s barn also includes My Brother Don, a stakes winner for the barn in September who is headed to the $50,000 Jim Thorpe at Remington on Dec. 15. Specialfite also holds a special place in the stable.

“He was my biggest win as a jockey, and my first stakes win as a trainer,” said Young, who captured the $113,000 Oklahoma Classics Sprint aboard the horse in 2010.

Young would later become the trainer of Specialfite, whom he saddled to a victory in the $40,000 Route 66 in 2012.

Young will base next at Will Rogers.

Cassity dead at 46

Justin Cassity, the former executive director of both the Oklahoma Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, died Nov. 30 due to complications after heart bypass surgery, confirmed his wife, Catie. Cassity was 46. He died the day before his birthday, at a hospital in Oaklawn, Ill.

“He’s at peace; there’s no suffering,” said Catie Cassity. “He’s going to be missed. He always filled the room, had that hearty laugh, and always wanted to celebrate. Lots of joy.”

Justin Cassity was a native of Collinsville, Ill., who spent a lifetime in racing. During his career in the sport, he also spent time working as a jockey’s agent at tracks in Illinois, Kentucky, and Louisiana.

“He was fifth generation on the racetrack and he was very, very proud of that,” said Catie Cassity. “Growing up, his parents were trainers and his grandfather was a jockey.”

Catie Cassity said that background served her husband of 15 years well in his positions representing horsemen in Oklahoma and Illinois. At the time of his death, Cassity was working as a finance manager for an automobile dealership in Illinois.

A visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Central on Friday at Herr Funeral Home in Collinsville, Ill. The funeral on Saturday will be private. Family friends have established an education fund for the couple’s 13-year-old son, Ean. Donations can be sent to the Ean Cassity Education Fund, 6107 Knollwood Rd., Willowbrook, Ill. 60527.

Cassity is also survived by his parents, father Darrell, who now works at Fairmont, and mother Diane Chadwick.