Saez hopes to share roses with his late brother
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Luis Saez is like any other jockey – he’d be overjoyed to win the Kentucky Derby. And with the mount on undefeated Magnum Moon in the 144th Derby, Saez stands as good a chance as any to be surrounded by roses Saturday evening at Churchill Downs.
Victory, however, would come with a certain bittersweet tinge. A part of Saez will be sad that his late younger brother, Juan, will not be able to share in his elation – nor have the same type of opportunity for himself.
“I want to win the race for him,” Saez said.
Juan Saez, with all but two of his 440 career mounts coming in Kentucky or Indiana, was developing into a star jockey before his life ended on Oct. 14, 2014, from injuries suffered in a spill at Indiana Grand in suburban Indianapolis. He was only 17.
With retired jockey Julio Espinoza as his agent and mentor, Juan Saez had begun his American riding career at Churchill on June 19, 2014. Even as an apprentice, he became the leading rider at Ellis Park in western Kentucky at the 2014 summer meet. The sky was the limit, and his entire family, including older brother Luis, were excited and immensely proud.
“He was the best young rider to come around since Chris Antley,” said Espinoza, referring to the phenom of the 1980s. “But more than that, he was a terrific person – loyal and thoughtful and sweet. I loved that kid. His death was a great tragedy. It really was.”
Luis Saez, back this week in the same jockeys’ room where his brother once worked out of, is glad that people have not forgotten Juan. Raul Vizcarrondo, Juan’s valet at Churchill, has a photo of Juan posted in his locker, and Luis said other people gently remind him of what a fine young man his brother was.
“My brother is always on my mind,” Saez said. “I have good memories coming back here. The first time I rode in the Derby (in 2013), he was here with me and so this is a big feeling being here – especially this year because I know we have a wonderful horse.”
Doing his best to smother his grief and depression by becoming one of the most accomplished jockeys in North America, life has carried on indeed for Luis Saez, who will turn 26 on May 19, Preakness Day. He, before Juan, also came from the family’s native Panama to begin his career in the United States at age 17, winning his first race at Calder (now Gulfstream Park West) in Miami on Aug. 20, 2009.
He has not stopped winning since. Now based primarily in New York while riding winters at Gulfstream Park, and with Richard DePass as his agent for nearly six years, Saez has booted home more than 1,900 winners and his mounts have earned more than $85 million. At the prestigious four-month championship meet at Gulfstream this past winter, Saez set a record for most wins (137), including two spectacular seven-win days (Jan. 24 and March 29) to equal a track record also held by Jerry Bailey (1996) and Tyler Gaffalione (2017).
Saez’s saddle skills have led many top conditioners to seek out his services, including Magnum Moon’s trainer, Todd Pletcher, a seven-time Eclipse Award winner for outstanding trainer in North America.
“Luis is a very intelligent rider,” Pletcher said. “He’s very natural, very strong, very aggressive. He comes to the paddock well prepared with a very positive attitude, and always comes in thinking he’s going to win. We’re glad to have him.”
This will be the sixth straight year Saez has ridden in the Derby. None of his five mounts finished better than seventh – none was lower than 18-1 odds – but he is hopeful that Magnum Moon, owned by Robert and Lawana Low, will fare better as the 6-1 third choice on the Churchill morning line. The Malibu Moon colt is unbeaten in four starts, all with Saez aboard, and comes in off a dominating four-length triumph in the April 14 Arkansas Derby. He will break from post 16 in a full gate of 20 3-year-olds.
“Every race he’s been running he’s been proven,” Saez said. “He’s an honest horse. He can run anywhere. Hopefully, we’ll have a good trip and see if we can win.”
If Magnum Moon does come through, Saez will follow a familiar ritual – he will point to the sky, as he does after every victory.
When he does that, he said, “I am giving thanks to God. Yes, to God – and remembering my brother at the same time.”