Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Riders face difficult decisions as final Derby preps approach
Jockey Luis Saez knew what it felt like to win the Kentucky Derby for about 22 minutes. Then, he didn’t.
The disqualification of Maximum Security from the 2019 Kentucky Derby for interference – and two subsequent losses in the Derby – officially leaves Saez 0 for 9 in the race every jockey wants to win. Six weeks out from the 149th Run for the Roses, May 6 at Churchill Downs, Saez finds himself the regular rider of two of the more promising contenders in Instant Coffee and Tapit Trice.
Decisions will have to be made. For now, however, Saez appears to have time on his side as he is scheduled to ride Instant Coffee in Saturday’s Grade 2, $1 million Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds and Tapit Trice in the Grade 1, $1 million Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on April 8 before having to make a call.
“He likes both of them a lot and he’s just glad we don’t have to decide yet,” said Kiaran McLaughlin, the former trainer who now works as Saez’s agent.
Instant Coffee, on whom Saez won the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in November and Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes in January, is trained by Brad Cox, who has a bevy of Derby prospects. They include Angel of Empire, whom Saez rode to victory in the Grade 2 Risen Star on Feb. 18. McLaughlin said Saez won’t ride Angel of Empire in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1, which will allow him to stay at Gulfstream Park for a stakes-laden card at his main winter track. Saez likely will pick up a Florida Derby mount, though as of Wednesday it was unclear whom.
Tapit Trice, on whom Saez won the Tampa Bay Derby on March 11, is trained by Todd Pletcher, who also conditions the current Kentucky Derby favorite, Forte, who is ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr.
McLaughlin said neither Cox nor Pletcher has pressured him for a decision. Yet.
From a trainer’s standpoint, Cox may have summed it up best.
“I’ve never had to scratch a horse because I couldn’t find a jockey,” Cox said.
Last month, McLaughlin made the decision for Saez to ride Litigate for Pletcher in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs, which forced him to concede the mount on Secret Oath in the Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park. While Litigate won the Sam F. Davis, he has subsequently been removed from Derby consideration. Secret Oath, trained by McLaughlin’s former boss D. Wayne Lukas, won the Azeri Stakes with her new rider Tyler Gaffalione.
“Wayne is still sharp at 87. He said, ‘I think you’re making a mistake. You’re riding Todd’s second-best colt,’ ” McLaughlin said. “I said, ‘You’re right, I am . . . but I need to stay alive in the Derby, that’s what it’s all about.’ ”
While Saez will take his regular seat Saturday aboard Instant Coffee, seven of the other 11 entrants in the Louisiana Derby will have a different rider on their back than in their previous start. Brian Hernandez Jr. chose Risen Star runner-up Sun Thunder over recent allowance runner-up Cagliostro, who will be ridden by Cristian Torres.
Corey Lanerie will stay aboard recent maiden winner Baseline Beater for Neil Pessin despite having ridden Dennington to a first-level allowance win on that same Feb. 18 card. Junior Alvarado has picked up Dennington.
Anthony Martin, who serves as Lanerie’s wintertime agent, said Baseline Beater, not yet Triple Crown-nominated, is a horse “tailor-made for the distance.” The Louisiana Derby is run at 1 3/16 miles.
“He had trouble from the gates the first few times he ran,” Martin said. “Last time was the first he got away cleanly and still dropped back. He keeps coming and doesn’t get tired.”
In the Louisiana Derby, Joel Rosario, who won the 2013 Kentucky Derby aboard Orb, will ride Disarm for Steve Asmussen, who has kept Ricardo Santana Jr., Disarm’s rider last out, on Shopper’s Revenge for the Louisiana Derby.
Rosario is represented by agent Ron Anderson, who has played the Derby chess game as well as anyone over the last several decades. He represented Gary Stevens in 1995, when he picked up 24-1 Derby winner Thunder Gulch after the Blue Grass. He represented Chris Antley in 1999, when he picked up 31-1 Derby winner Charismatic after the last round of preps.
“My thoughts are always you’re better off being loose and open like Joel is at this point than being hung up on something you know can’t get the distance or can’t win,” he said.
Anderson also represents John Velazquez, who will ride Reincarnate in the Arkansas Derby and who is expected to ride National Treasure in the Blue Grass.
While Ortiz is linked to Forte for the Kentucky Derby, he will have business in upcoming Derby preps that don’t involve that horse. He will ride Major Dude in Saturday’s $750,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park and just recently picked up the mount on Blazing Sevens for the Blue Grass, primarily because he was open for that race.
“In some instances [being committed] could cause a problem at the same time guys are more worried about the next race,” said Ortiz’s agent, Steve Rushing. “If they think Irad can make a difference and he’s available they’ll use him and worry about the Derby when it comes up.”
Six weeks to go. The Derby is coming up pretty fast.