Getty Gallery: 2/4
Magnum Moon's Jockey: Luis Saez
Luis Saez was born in Panama City. According to America's Best Racing, Saez has won $85.39 million over his jockey career, and has 1,907 victories. Saez has had 5,104 top-three finishes in his 11,094 starts. This equates to $7,697 for Saez every time he jumps on the saddle. Saez is looking for his first win in an American Classic, but has had success at the Breeders' Cup. America's Best Racing provides an overview of Saez's career.
"A native of Panama City, Saez calls Calder race track his home base since moving to the states in 2009," America's Best Racing notes. "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."
According to the Sun Sentinel, Saez's younger brother, Juan, was an up-and-coming jockey who died in a 2014 fall while riding a horse. The two brothers had just raced the previous week at Keeneland. Saez spoke with the Sun Sentinel on how he has tried to overcome his brother's loss.
"The other night, I saw him standing there in front of me, and he said, 'Don't worry, I'm fine,'" Saez told the Sun Sentinel. "That made me he feel better. He said, 'Tell everyone I'm OK.'..."He then started racing, and he was great at it. I felt so happy, because it was all looking good for [both of us]. I was doing good. He was doing good. We were doing what we wanted...He was as good a brother as you could have."
Magnum Moon heads into the 2018 Kentucky Derby with four straight wins, including a big victory in the Arkansas Derby. After the race, Saez spoke about the horse's performance.
“I thought there was going to be a little speed,” Saez told the Paulick Report. “We were in a good position he broke really sharp. I'm not going to choke him I am just going to stay there and he was very comfortable into the turn he was traveling pretty good. When I came to the stretch I felt like he was looking at the gate marks so when we got there I touched him a little and he went. We will see what happens.”
Saez is teaming up with trainer Todd Pletcher, who has four horses in the Derby. Saez may not have the resume of some of the other top jockeys, but he has already put together a solid start to 2018. Saez recently won the Jockey of the Week award. The Paulick Report detailed the honor.
"With his second seven-win day this year, Luis Saez swept the panel to be named Jockeys' Guild Jockey of the Week for March 26 – April 1, 2018," The Paulick Report notes. "The award is voted on by a panel of experts for riding accomplishments by members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 950 riders in North America...Luis Saez' seven-win day and stakes record last week at Gulfstream was more than enough to earn Jockey of the Week honors, even against performances from Dubai World Cup day on Saturday."