Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Saez off to hot start
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – It might have been a surprise to most of the experts when Luis Saez unseated fivetime reigning Gulfstream Park riding champion Javier Castellano to win the 2016-17 Championship meet jockey title. But it certainly will not come as a surprise to anyone if Saez repeats the feat this winter, especially with the defending champ having gotten off to a red-hot start with 24 victories over the first 14 days of the session.
Saez, 25, had edged closer to the top spot here before last winter’s meet, finishing fourth in the standings in 2012-13 and 2013-14, and second, behind only Castellano, in 2014-15 and again in 2015-16.
“I was a little surprised myself I was able to beat out Javier last year,” said Saez, a native of Panama and a graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey School. “And this year we’ve been getting a lot of support right off the bat from owners and trainers and I want to thank them a lot for that.”
Saez used his success here last winter as a springboard to a terrific year, with 225 victories and more than $13 million in purses on his résumé heading into the final weekend of the season. He has posted 26 stakes wins, a dozen of those in graded races, including the Grade 1 Hopeful aboard Sporting Chance for trainer D. Wayne Lukas this summer at Saratoga.
Saez wasted little time serving notice to his fellow riders that he’s going to be tough to beat for the title again in 2017-18, winning six races on Wednesday’s program, the third time he’s reached that milestone during his career.
“I came to the track like it was a normal day,” said Saez. “I never expected anything like that to happen. I got surprised that day. All the horses were running pretty good for me.”
Saez said he feels no pressure when it comes to defending his Gulfstream title.
“I feel pretty comfortable, no real pressure,” said Saez. “We’ll just keep trying hard, and if it happens again, it happens.”
Statebred purses get a boost
Gulfstream Park has reached an agreement with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association and the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association that will assure $2.5 million in purse money for registered Florida-breds in 2018, $1 million of which is being earmarked for overnight races at Gulfstream and Gulfstream Park West.
The pact not only secures the 37th running of the $1.5 million Florida Sire Stakes, the series for 2-year-olds by nominated Florida stallions, but also includes a $10,000 bonus in select open-company overnight races at Gulfstream Park in the summer for 2-year-olds registered in Florida; a $10,000 bonus in select open-company overnight races during the fall for 3-year-olds and up registered in Florida; and $10,000 in additional purse money in select races for Florida-breds throughout the year.
“We’re moving in an exciting direction with this agreement,” said P.J. Campo, vice president of racing for Gulfstream Park and The Stronach Group. “While we’ve always supported the Florida Sire Stakes and Florida stakes program, this agreement is the first to really extend that support to overnight races. We believe by doing this, it will encourage more participation by breeders and owners to breed and race in Florida year round”
Lonny Powell, CEO of the FTBOA, said, “For multiple reasons this agreement for 2018 is a winning deal for the horse owners, track, breeders, wagering public, and the entire Florida Thoroughbred industry.”
◗ Gulfstream Park has also instituted a new policy giving trainers the option of voiding a claim if the horse involved suffers a fatal injury during the race, is euthanized on the racetrack, or is vanned off after the race due to lameness issues.
“The main goal of the rule is to limit the number of horses with physical issues trainers might drop into claiming races with the hopes of losing them at the claim box,” said association steward and former trainer Steve DiMauro. “The idea was to get in line with other tracks who already had a similar rule in place, and to show we here care about the horses and the people involved with them. And it was implemented with the full support of the Florida HBPA.”
DiMauro said the rule has been implemented once over the first 14 days of the 2017-18 session.