Luis Saez
 

Has to be the smartest rider around. The reason I say this is whenever he shows up n a horse the horse seems to find much more early speed than it normally shows.

Saez has realized two very important things. 1) speed is a weapon 2) Most riders are allergic to the lead.

He’s almost always sending out of the gate to establish position, instead of allowing others to do that to him like 95% of the riders around. Plus, when his mount breaks well he doesn’t yank them back for no reason.

It’s the difference between a 20% rider and a 5% rider.

That's the reason he rose up the ranks at Gulfstream so quickly, and why he seamlessly transitioned to New York where most other riders have struggled. Javier is a lot like this too, and Kendrick Carmouche has stuck around in New York pretty much exclusively due to his aggressiveness. More 5-10% jocks would do well to take notice of this.

Saez is awesome though, probably the most underrated rider in the country and the only person I felt bad for when Maximum Security got DQ'ed. Did a story on him last summer at Saratoga too and he couldn't have been nicer.

I think Lukas gave him a big shot a couple of years ago in a major stakes race at OP and he did well. Now Pletcher is using him more and Johnny V lesser as he takes fewer mounts while he gets older.

He's terrific, especially nursing on the front end and then scooting away like he did twice for us on William'sluckygray.

Marty Wolfson & David Fawkes gave him his early chances in important spots. I watched the Comely with Fawkes at AQU when Saez gave a brilliant ride to Hot Summer. Fawkes said he was going to be a top rider.

Good to see a rider who understand how racing works.
The horse and rider are a team on the track, the horse usually the one with the brains.

Why anyone would grab a horse and allow the competition to stay within striking distance when he could easily open up is baffling. :zz:

I like the Mig's comments on this - "They have to go where I've already been."

He got that from Tony Black.. :D