Jockey Luis Saez Gets 2,000th Victory

Jockey Luis Saez rode his 2,000th winner Nov. 9 at Aqueduct Racetrack, where he guided Y'allcomenow to victory in the fourth race, a maiden special weight event at one mile on the inner turf.

The 26-year-old native of Panama City, Panama earned his first win in 2009 and has won at least 100 races in every campaign since. He's had six years of 200 victories, topped by his 281 in 2012. Saez has registered 75 graded staked stakes wins, including 10 in grade 1 races..

"It was exciting. This is so special. I'm thankful for getting 2,000 wins," Saez said after the three-quarter-length victory aboard Windy Lea Farms' homebred Invasor filly Friday. "It's not easy. I'm just working hard. When I came to New York, it was hard, but I'm just going to keep trying.

"I've been learning every day and working hard and trying to do my best. When I first came here, I didn't have the experience. But I've tried to develop. It's very special to do it here. New York has the best horses, the best riders, and the best trainers. It's not easy. But thank God we did it."

Saez attended the Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey Training Academy in Panama. In 2009 Saez began to apply his craft at Calder Race Course (now known as Gulfstream Park West) and earned his first win aboard Fearless Honor Aug. 20 of that year. More success followed quickly, as Saez captured his first graded stakes win in the 2010 Tropical Turf Handicap (G3T) at Gulfstream Park.

Just four years after his racing debut, Saez piloted Will Take Charge  to a memorable 2013 campaign, in which he won the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male. Under Saez's direction Will Take Charge won the Pennsylvania Derby (G2), Clark Handicap (G1), and Travers Stakes (G1)—Saez's first grade 1 victory.

Notable horses for Saez in 2018 include Man o' War (G1T) winner Hi Happy, H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy (G1) victor Promises Fulfilled, and Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Magnum Moon.