Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Saez’s 7-win day ties record
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jockey Luis Saez rode seven winners on Wednesday’s 11-race program at Gulfstream Park, tying a track record set by Jerry Bailey in 1996 and equaled last July by Tyler Gaffalione.
Saez scored aboard Lawless Lady ($7.60) in race 2, Admirable Kiss ($4.20) in race 3, Charge Card ($26.60) in race 5, Appa ($6.60) in race 7, Emperor John ($3.80) in race 8, Arch Daddy ($10) in race 9, and Arcelor ($6) in race 10.
The big day gave Saez 65 winners through the first 40 days of the meet and helped him widen his lead atop the jockey standings to 20 victories over Gaffalione, his closest pursuer.
Saez is a graduate of the Laffit Pincay Jr. Jockey School. He began his U.S. career in south Florida in 2009 and had instant success. He was a finalist for the 2009 Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice jockey and has gone on to win more than 1,800 races in this country.
“I feel wonderful, that was a great day,” Saez said in the winner’s circle following his record-equaling seventh win. “I always come here trying to do our best, but today, man, all the horses ran good for me. I feel so blessed. It’s a great thing. When I came to the track today, I never expected to have this kind of success. But after I won the first and second races, I felt it was going to be a good day. Everything has to go so perfectly for you in the races to have a day like this, and today I never got in trouble. Everything went great.”
Maurer Power euthanized
Maurer Power, runner-up in the Grade 2 Demoiselle at Aqueduct in December, had to be euthanized Jan. 13 after a morning training accident at the Palm Meadows training center in Boynton Beach, Fla.
Trainer John Servis said Maurer Power threw her rider shortly after entering the racetrack, then crashed into a support pole on the outer rail, severely injuring a leg. She was owned by the Cash Is King Stable of Afleet Alex fame.
“It was absolutely devastating,” Servis said. “We had big plans for that filly.”
Maurer Power, a 3-year-old filly by Violence, won both starts prior to finishing second to Wonder Gadot in the Demoiselle by taking a July maiden race at Delaware Park and an October allowance at Parx Racing. She was a $180,000 purchase at the 2016 Keeneland September yearling sale.