Ten Wins Earns Saez Jockey of The Week

By any measure, jockey Luis Saez had a terrific week. His 10 wins overall, more than any other rider, included two stakes with one graded. The panel of racing experts recognized those achievements and voted Saez Jockey of the Week January 27-February 2. The weekly honor recognizes jockeys for significant riding accomplishments and who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States. Saez began the race week on Wednesday with a win in Race six for trainer Carlos David on Doctor Jeff and another in Race nine for trainer Gustavo Delgado aboard O Captain. On Friday's card, Saez won the second race for trainer Angel Rodriguez aboard Jurassic Chick and posted another win in the ninth race with Silent Heart for trainer Brian Lynch. Saez started his four-win Saturday in the fifth race for two-time Eclipse Award trainer Brad Cox on Emergence. Saez also won the sixth race with Echo Lane for trainer Rohan Crichton. Southern California trainer Peter Eurton shipped Charlie's to Blame to Gulfstream for the Kitten's Joy Stakes and with Saez in the irons, Charlie's to Blame went off at odds of 3-1. The west coast invader showed the way from his inside post until Maui Strong with Junior Alvarado up challenged Charlie's to Blame past the quarter pole. Charlie's to Blame dug deep to keep Maui Strong at bay and won by a head in 1:40.48 for the mile and one-sixteenth turf test for three-year-olds. Closing out the card was the day's co-feature, the Gr. III Forward Gal, with Saez in the saddle on Eclatant for trainer Brad Cox. Off at odds of 4-1, Eclatant broke from post position seven in the field of 11 three-year-old fillies. Eclatant rallied on the turn from mid-pack to overtake the leaders in mid-stretch posting a one and one-quarter length win over her stablemate Stunner in 1:23.61 for seven furlongs. "We followed the speed and when we came to the three-eighths (pole) I felt like I had horse and at the top of the stretch she gave me a good kick," Saez said to Gulfstream publicity. "She was digging and digging and kept coming." Saez finished the race week with a win in Sunday's third race for trainer Danny Gargan aboard Get Ready to Rock and the seventh race for trainer Michael Maker on Biz Biz Buzz. Saez is currently third in the standings. Other contenders for Jockey of the Week included Manny Franco who won the Withers, Antonio Fresu with a win in the Gr. III Santa Monica, Flavien Prat won the Gr. III Endeavour and Gr. III Tampa Bay and Edgard Zayas who won the Gr. III Holy Bull.