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Sebastian Saez to join Aqueduct jockey colony

by Keith McCalmont

Jockey Sebastian Saez, the younger brother of prominent New York-based rider Luis Saez, will make his return to riding at the Aqueduct fall meet which kicks off on Friday, November 6 and runs through Sunday, December 6.

The 21-year-old Saez said he wants to uphold the highly-regarded riding talents of his family, including 28-year-old brother Luis and his late brother Juan, an apprentice rider who died tragically at the age of 17 from injuries sustained in a spill in October 2014 at Indiana Grand.

Saez last rode in January 2019 at Gulfstream Park before returning to his native Panama to spend time with family and look inward as an act of mindfulness before resetting course to his goal of becoming a successful rider.

"I went back to Panama for a year to clear my head and find myself," said Saez. "But I realized how much I missed riding here in the States and I knew that I had to give it a shot again. I was just a kid then. Now, I've grown up and I'm ready."

As a teenager, Saez won five races in New York at the 2016 Belmont spring/summer meet, including a frontrunning half-length score with the Bruce Levine-trained Foxy Posse on the inner turf where he held off a game bid from Luis aboard Maybry's Conquest.

"It was a great finish," recalled Luis. "He has a lot of talent. I think when he first came here he was a little too young, but now he's grown and he's ready."

"Most important for him is to be patient and to try and do his best and always be here to work horses in the morning, see everybody and work hard," he added. "The main thing is to work hard. I wish all the best for him."

The up-and-coming rider lived with his brother Luis in Florida before launching his career in 2015 at Churchill Downs, where he picked up his first win in May 2015 aboard Bob's Gone Wild.

The elder Saez, a multiple Grade 1-winning veteran with more than 2,500 career wins, said his younger sibling has the talent to make it in New York.

"When he was living with me in Florida, I was teaching him every day about how to ride. He learned a lot," said Saez. "When he went to Churchill he was doing great over there but we had a bad moment when we lost our brother. I think that hurt him and that's why he had to take time off. Now, he's in the right spot and I have a good feeling about him coming back to ride.

"He's a strong rider, too," Saez added. "He can ride horses anywhere - from the front, from behind. He has a good left hand and I think he has the talent."

With 1,093 starts to his credit, the younger Saez owns a modest record of 121-137-138, good for purse earnings in excess of $2.6 million. For the last two months, Saez said he has been riding out for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen in Kentucky.

"I was working in Kentucky getting fit and ready to ride. I was breezing a lot of horses," said Saez.

Saez will be making his return and Big A debut on Opening Day of a fall meet that offers 29 stakes, including 11 graded events, worth $3.41 million in purse money.

The good-natured young rider said he brings a few familiar Saez family traits to the table.

"I think I am very strong and I finish well," said Saez. "I try to watch and learn as much as I can from my brother Luis. I also have good hands and I know how to get a horse to relax."

When asked what he would choose if he could borrow a skill or strength from each of his brothers, Saez said, "From Luis, I would like to borrow his knowledge of the game and how he is loved by everyone. And from Juan, he rides with me. I will ride with the passion he rode with and smile and enjoy riding like him."

All three Saez brothers graduated from Panama's famed Laffit Pincay Jockey School. Juan went on to earn honors as the leading rider at the 2014 Ellis Park meet and Luis has ridden on the biggest stages of the sport and guided his mounts to more than $126 million in purse earnings.

Saez, however, said he credits his older brother as his role model and mentor.

"I went to the school of Luis Saez," said Saez with a laugh. "I think I had a really great teacher. He is one of the best in the country."

Racing fans can follow Saez, who will be represented by agent Shawn Klotz, on his Twitter account @Jockeyssaezpty.

"I just want a shot to prove that I'm a good rider and I can make it here in New York," said Saez. "This is the major leagues of horse racing and it's an honor to ride with the best riding colony in America. I'm going to work so hard to be the best I can be."

America's Day at the Races will present daily television coverage of the Aqueduct fall meet with coverage to air on FOX Sports and MSG Networks.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Aqueduct Racetrack, and the best way to bet every race of the 18-day fall meet. Available to horseplayers nationwide, NYRA Bets is currently offering a $200 new member bonus in addition to a host of special weekly offers. The NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.