Red-hot Saez seeks even more success at Keeneland, Belmont

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Luis Saez hopes to ride the wave of a record-setting winter into a successful spring at Keeneland and summer in New York.

On Thursday, Saez rode seven winners from eight mounts on the Gulfstream card, coming within a neck of having a perfect day. It was the second time this meet Saez has won seven races on a Gulfstream card, equaling the record set by Jerry Bailey in 1995 and equaled by Tyler Gaffalione last summer. Saez also won seven races on Jan. 24.

Saez entered Friday’s action with 132 wins and needed just one more victory over the final three cards of racing to set a Gulfstream Park Championship meet record. Javier Castellano rode 132 winners at the 2013-14 meet.

Last year, Saez won 102 races at Gulfstream, but he won only five races at Keeneland and finished seventh in the Belmont Park spring standings with 30 victories. Saez, who turns 26 on Kentucky Derby Day, hopes to do better at those meets this year. Saez will ride in Keeneland’s spring meet, which begins next Friday.

“I think we’re going to do better over there,” he said. “I didn’t do pretty good the first years when I went there because it’s tough when you move there for the first time, second time. Every year we’ve been there we’ve been doing better and better.”

At Gulfstream, Saez rode 17 winners for Todd Pletcher – who will win his 15th Gulfstream trainers title – which is three more than he rode for him last year.

“If he keeps giving me more opportunity, we’re going to be okay,” Saez said.

Many of the top riders at Gulfstream will scatter after this meet ends. Irad Ortiz Jr., who was second in the standings with 97 wins entering Friday’s card, will be based at Aqueduct with a few trips to Keeneland.

Tyler Gaffalione, third in the standings, will remain at Gulfstream after riding the first four days of the Keeneland meet.

“The purses are good and a couple of new horsemen are staying down here, so it’s a good opportunity to build business with some new barns,” said Gaffalione, who said he might try Saratoga this summer.

Jose Ortiz, fourth in the Gulfstream standings, and Joel Rosario will ride primarily at Keeneland. Rosario won the Keeneland spring title last year.

Javier Castellano and John Velazquez will bounce between Aqueduct and Keeneland. Castellano will be at Santa Anita on Saturday to ride Bolt d’Oro in the Santa Anita Derby.

– additional reporting by Mike Welsch