Luis Saez

A native of Panama City, Saez started out at Calder Race Track as his home base after moving to the states in 2009 and won four straight riding titles there. He subsequently won multiple riding titles at Gulfstream Park.

Saez picked up a mount in the 2013 Belmont Stakes aboard Freedom Child after piloting the son of Malibu Moon to a victory in the Peter Pan Stakes. Later in 2013, Saez experienced great success with Will Take Charge, guiding him to victories in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes, $1 million Pennsylvania Derby and Grade 1 Clark Handicap as well as a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

In January 2014, Saez earned his 1,000th career win when he guided Lea to victory in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope Handicap at Gulfstream Park. He won the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes in 2016 aboard Brody's Cause, who ran seventh that year in the Kentucky Derby, Saez's best finish in the classic from six starters through 2018.

Saez enjoyed a terrific year in 2018 with a career-best $17 million in purse earnings and three Grade 1 wins, including the Arkansas Derby with Magnum Moon. Saez also finished second on Bravazo in the 2018 Preakness Stakes. His 245 victories ranked ninth in the United States and he posted his 2,000th career win aboard Y'allcomenow at Aqueduct Nov. 9.

In 2019, Saez finished one victory behind Irad Ortiz Jr. in the winter-spring meet rider standings at Gulfstream Park with 134 wins, including a dominant victory aboard Maximum Security in the Grade 1 Xpressbet Florida Derby.

In 2020, Saez rode eight different Grade 1 winners and picked up his first victory at the Breeders' Cup World Championships with his 26th starter when he rallied from off the pace to win the TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance aboard Essential Quality.

Saez added a nice win to his resume early in 2021 when he guided Mystic Guide to victory in the $12 million Dubai World Cup. A few months later, he won his first Triple Crown race when he guided Essential Quality to victory in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. 

Saez enjoyed great success at the 2021 Saratoga meet. He won 64 races from 336 mounts, to earn his first riding title at the historic oval. He won two stakes races aboard Essential Quality, including the Runhappy Travers Stakes on Aug. 28. 

In 2022, Saez continued to add new highlights to his résumé. In May, he earned his first win in the Longines Kentucky Oaks, guiding Secret Oath to a two-length victory. He won his 3,000th career race at Belmont Park on June 4, riding Funny Joke to victory.

Saez added another Belmont Stakes victory to his resume in 2024 when he guided Dornoch to a hard-fought victory at Saratoga.