Saez seeks to return Friday after COVID-19 quarantine

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Jockey Luis Saez, who on July 9 tested positive for the coronavirus, is named on six horses Friday at Saratoga. He will be permitted to ride, provided he produces a negative COVID-19 test and gets clearance from a physician noting he can no longer transmit the virus.

Saez was riding at Keeneland on July 10 when, after finishing second in the second race on the card, he was notified his previous day’s test had turned up positive for COVID-19. Saez had undergone testing because he had been riding at several tracks, including Belmont Park, Los Alamitos, and Indiana Grand in a five-day period.

Saez was immediately removed from the remainder of his mounts at Keeneland and was required to undergo a 10-day quarantine period.

Saez has been asymptomatic all along, according to his agent, Kiaran McLaughlin.

“He’s feeling great, champing at the bit,” McLaughlin said.

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Since Saez wants to ride the remainder of the Saratoga meet beginning Friday, he will not be permitted to travel to Del Mar to ride Maximum Security, last year’s 3-year-old champion, in the rescheduled San Diego Handicap. That race was originally scheduled for July 18, but that card as well as two others were scrapped due to several jockeys at Del Mar having tested positive for the virus.

Despite having missed time due to the coronavirus and the serving of suspensions, Saez ranks second in North America this year with 151 victories and fifth in purse money won with $6 million.