Saez Wins Five at Gulfstream; Prado Ties Cordero Again

Jockey Luis Saez rode five winners on the March 26 10-race card at Gulfstream Park while notching his fourth straight 100-win championship-meet season.

Saez rode his 100th winner in Race 4 aboard Blakey ($5.20) before going on to win four more races. He came right back in race 5 to score aboard Sister O'Toole ($4.20) before visiting the winner's circle with Blue Buff ($3) in race 7, withToo Much War ($13.60) in race 8, and Soldado ($3.60) in race 9. 

The 27-year-old Panama native captured the meet titles in 2016-2017 with 102 wins and 2017-2018 with a record 137 victories before finishing second behind Irad Ortiz Jr., 135-134, in 2018-2019, according to figures from the track.

With 104 wins, Saez is second behind Ortiz, who has ridden 115 winners this season. Ortiz has not been riding for the past week, a decision made out of safety concerns for him and his family related to COVID-19.

Blue Buff maintained a perfect record on dirt with an overpowering four-length victory in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming starter allowance. The 6-year-old son of Unbridled's Song won his two prior starts by 2 1/2 and 6 lengths. The John Servis-trained gelding, who won his debut in 2017 before going on the shelf for 2 1/2 years, ran three times on turf upon his return before going back to dirt.

Edgar Prado Moves into Tie with Angel Cordero Again

Edgar Prado celebrated tying fellow Hall of Famer Angel Cordero for eighth on the all-time races-won standings a second time Thursday at Gulfstream Park. The veteran rider was believed to have ridden his 7,057th winner Wednesday, but overnight Equibase removed a victory from his tally related to the post-race disqualification from a winning mount in 2015.

He came right back to officially tie Cordero while winning Thursday's last race aboard Belgrano ($13.60).

Prado, who rode as an apprentice in his native Peru, began riding in the U.S. in 1986. He notched his first win aboard Single Love at Calder on June 1, 1986. The 53-year-old jockey, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008, has amassed countless highlights during his illustrious career, including a Kentucky Derby (G1) win aboard Barbaro in 2006 during a season in which he was later honored with an Eclipse Award as North America's outstanding jockey. He also recorded Belmont Stakes (G1) wins aboard Birdstone  (2004) and Sarava (2002), as well as five Breeder's Cup victories.

Prado's mounts have earned nearly $270 million in purses.