Jockey Profile: Luis Saez

Jockey Luis Saez has become one of the absolute best riders in the nation. Saez, who usually rides between Gulfstream Park and on the New York circuit, started riding in 2009. In less than a decade, Saez's mounts have earned over $71.8 million dollars.

Saez has an uncanny knack for making horses run better than they would under a different jockey. Every horse Saez rides appears to have a shot at the top of the stretch. He's that good.  Another reason Luis is so great is that he has no fear and tries as hard on a maiden claimer as he does on a mount in a Grade 1 race.

Check out 5 races that display Luis Saez's greatness.

2016 Bluegrass Stakes - Brody's Cause

Brody's Cause went off at 9/2. The favorite in the Bluegrass Stakes last year was the Todd Pletcher trained Zulu at 2 to 1. Watch how Saez works Brody's Cause around the turn, and in the stretch. Luis uses that forceful action on every horse he rides. Many times, horses try harder when Saez pushes them.

2015 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes - Grand Arch

Grand Arch's win over The Pizza Man and Tourist in the 2015 Shadwell Turf Mile was all Luis Saez. He muscled Grand Arch home for the win. As soon as Tourist dived to the rail, I thought Saez and Grand Arch were done. Saez can ride any horse on any surface. But, I've seen him do amazing things while on the back of a turf horse.

2016 Black-Eyed Susans Stakes - Go Maggie Go

Once again, Luis muscled home a horse. This time, it was 9/5 shot Go Maggie Go in the 2016 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. What I love about Saez's ride on Go Maggie Go is how he knows when to push her. Horses on the inside usually don't accelerate past horses to their outside. Saez got Go Maggie Go to relax along the rail. Then he got her a horse length off the rail before pushing her to the wire.

2013 Travers Stakes - Will Take Charge

The most famous horse that Luis has ever rode so far in his career is Will Take Charge. Will Take Charge went off 9 to 1 to win the 2013 Travers Stakes. What's amazing to me is how well Saez and Will Take Charge worked together in this race. Let's be honest, Will Take Charge looked like he was going to throw in the towel before Saez got him to make that incredible surge right at the end.

2013 Breeders Cup Classic - Will Take Charge

Did Will Take Charge win the 2013 Breeders Cup Classic? No, he didn't. But, Luis Saez's ride was so great that I thought I should add it to the list. This is the thing about Saez. It doesn't matter what horse he's on, that frenetic motion that he displays from the top of the stretch to the end of the stretch he does on every horse he rides, every day. Sometimes, many times, horses don't respond enough for the win.

That's okay. Luis is such a competitor that often those horses still end up in the money.